deteriorate

[dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt]

verb (used with or without object)

deteriorated, deteriorating 

1. to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.

   Synonyms: worsen, decline, degenerate

2. to disintegrate or wear away.

deteriorate

/ dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate

2. (intr) to wear away or disintegrate

Other Word Forms

• deteriorative adjective
• deterioration noun
• undeteriorated adjective
• undeteriorative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deteriorate¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Late Latin dēteriōrātus “made worse,” past participle of dēteriōrāre “to make worse,” from Latin dēterior “worse,” from dē de- + -ter-, element in adjectives relating to spatial orientation + -ior, comparative suffix; exterior, interior

Word History and Origins

Origin of deteriorate¹

C16: from Late Latin dēteriōrāre, from Latin dēterior worse

Example Sentences

But after the Navy closed the San Diego training center in 1997, it sat empty and deteriorating, facing threats of demolition or commercial redevelopment.

From Los Angeles Times

But Jimmy's deteriorating health has made this increasingly difficult and now he is under pressure to vacate the site to make way for a new development.

From BBC

Shah said conditions have deteriorated in part because of how quickly this administration scaled up arrests.

From Los Angeles Times

She added: "Sadly we never got to spend his £50,000 prize as his health deteriorated and we couldn't even go on a holiday."

From BBC

Tom Smith KC, for Poundland Limited, wrote that the retailer's financial position had "significantly deteriorated during the last two years" and that it had "performed poorly in a difficult retail and economic environment".

From BBC

Related Words

• crumble 
• decline 
• degrade 
• depreciate 
• disintegrate 
• ebb 
• fade 
• fail 
• fall apart 
• languish 
• lessen 
• lower 
• regress 
• sink 
• slide 
• undermine 
• weaken 
• worsen