deteriorate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
- Synonyms:
- worsen, decline, degenerate
-
to disintegrate or wear away.
verb
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to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate
-
(intr) to wear away or disintegrate
Other Word Forms
- deterioration noun
- deteriorative adjective
- undeteriorated adjective
- undeteriorative adjective
Etymology
Origin of deteriorate
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This means when fundamentals deteriorate, it’s difficult for the ETFs to meet redemptions quickly enough.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
For longevity seekers like Scott and Chitwood, the reasons behind their pursuit is simple: They see the way older people deteriorate, and they want to ensure they avoid that fate.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
The International Energy Agency reportedly met this morning to monitor developments, raising the possibility of coordinated action if markets deteriorate further.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
If commodity prices rise and a country’s import bills swell, trade balances would deteriorate, and that tends to hurt currencies, noted Angrick.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026
Newsome Park and the hundreds of neighborhoods like it around the country became increasingly volatile, desperate islands where housing, schooling, and every other state- supplied service were left to deteriorate.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
