1
as in deteriorated
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2
as in declining
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in crumbling
to become worse or of less value
the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degrading
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deteriorating
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Iran has been racked by protests over the past several days around deteriorating economic conditions in the country, made worse by a growing water crisis and severe sanctions against Tehran.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
People protesting deteriorating economic conditions in Iran took to the streets across several of the country’s provinces over the past day, with some demonstrations turning deadly after clashes with police.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Dozens of businesses and states have called his authority into question, spurring conversations about executive versus congressional powers and the deteriorating state of federal checks and balances.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 26 Dec. 2025
After years of drug abuse, as well as prostate cancer and diabetes, Brown’s health was deteriorating.
—Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Blackouts, food shortages, diseases due to deteriorating sanitary conditions and accumulated trash all over the cities have scared away many tourists.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
The stucco is rapidly deteriorating, and our home looks terrible.
—Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
In the last 28 years, Alaska's rural school districts have made close to 1,800 requests to the state for money to maintain and repair deteriorating schools, but only 14% of those requests have been approved.
—Emily Schwing, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
For now, all that can be said for certain, judging by the latest implosion in his current employers West Ham’s fast-deteriorating season, is that nobody has benefited from his falling-out with Edu and the sequence of events that brought about Nuno’s exit from the City Ground.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorating
Adjective
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Repairs could include the replacement of deteriorated siding, windows, porches and flooring.—
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Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces is continuing its operation to take control of Gaza City, the largest urban area in the Gaza Strip, despite international outcry over the deteriorated humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory.—
Adjective
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While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.—
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In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.—
Verb
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The ensuing 2022-23 season saw Rayo beat both Barca and Madrid when Spain’s big two came to their crumbling Estadio Vallecas.—
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Frank’s crew rolls into the crumbling squat that is Colombian HQ, sporting body armor and flamethrowers.—
Verb
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The information ecosystem is degrading more each moment.—
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Under Budanov, the GUR expanded its operational footprint, coordinating intelligence, sabotage and special operations aimed at degrading Russian military capabilities far beyond the front lines.—
Adjective
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The film is an adaptation of the ghost novel What Happens At Night, which follows a married couple that travels to Europe to adopt a baby, staying in a cavernous, fading European hotel filled with eccentric characters.—
Verb
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The next year, there was a nearly 10 percent rise in homelessness in the city, worsening an already difficult situation.—
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Hurricane Milton also opened Milton Pass, slicing Stump Pass Beach State Park in half and destabilizing nearby barrier islands, which could lead to worsening beach erosion.—
Verb
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Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
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This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Adjective
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The Yous’ home, the eye-popping standout of Ryu Seong-hie’s production design, is a similarly enormous but earthier, more ramshackle affair.—
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Most of the rigs are older, ramshackle models, but here and there shiny coaches broadcast the relative wealth of their inhabitants—techies who could afford an apartment but don’t want to waste their money on rent.—
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorating. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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