deteriorating

[ dih-teer-ee-uh-rey-ting ]

adjective

1. becoming worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.:

   A deteriorating house, whatever the cause, will have an adverse effect on your real estate investment.

   Officials have warned of a deteriorating security situation in the disputed territory.

2. disintegrating or wearing away:

   If what you have underneath is fabric or fiberglass, I’d be concerned that deteriorating paint is letting ultraviolet rays do their worst to your aircraft.

Other Words From

• un·de·te·ri·o·rat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deteriorating¹

First recorded in 1680–90; deteriorate ( def ) + -ing ²( def )

Example Sentences

Dr. Sasse cited his wife’s deteriorating health as the reason for his departure.

From New York Times

As I watch him strike the trophy pose again, I shake my head to drive away thoughts of his athletic body deteriorating before my eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

Potholes and the deteriorating conditions of rural roads are affecting journeys with vulnerable passengers, a transport provider has said.

From BBC

The salary request has also caused grumbling among some inside the department, who question the optics at a time when some police facilities are deteriorating.

From Los Angeles Times

Once a tollway, the iconic mile-long suspension bridge — a crucial artery in the nation’s busiest port complex — has been deteriorating for years.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crummy
• decaying
• decrepit
• desolate
• dilapidated
• dingy
• pitiful
• ramshackle
• ratty
• rickety
• run down
• scruffy
• seedy
• shoddy
• squalid
• tacky
• tattered
• threadbare
• worn