atrophy 1 of 2

verb

Definition of atrophynext
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

atrophy

2 of 2

noun

as in degeneration

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of atrophy
Verb
What is your advice for people who are trying to either develop or redevelop this atrophying muscle of curiosity and attention? — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 The missive cites a slew of studies suggesting that AI software such as ChatGPT may atrophy critical thinking skills and creativity during the crucial developmental years of elementary and high school. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026
Noun
Aviation learned, repeatedly and expensively, what happens when human skills atrophy inside that gap. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026 His football endurance might still be coming along; his football instincts might still be creeping back; his contact-balance is still a skill that needs to be strengthened after years of atrophy. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atrophy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy
  1. deteriorate
  2. degeneration
  3. decline
  4. deterioration
  5. crumble
  6. decay
  7. worsen
  8. weakening
Verb
  • Meanwhile, at the celebratory crew dinner, the we’re-all-in-this-together vibe starts to deteriorate.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Her condition deteriorated rapidly over the following 48 hours.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Noun
  • When nobody has coached a person into this transition, the degeneration is quick.
    — Vikas Arora, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • According to the American Brain Foundation, frontotemporal degeneration (also known as frontotemporal dementia), is a group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with changes in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of degeneration
Verb
  • The parties involved in the litigation—as well as Red Lobster itself, which is not being sued—declined to comment for this article, but their court filings lay out the sad saga in dramatic detail.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But campus police made no arrests, and the district attorney, Matthew Van Houten, initially declined to pursue charges against the seven fraternity brothers.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline
Noun
  • But its deterioration is a profound a priori, one that can only be partially forestalled.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The moves come as economic indicators showed months of deterioration, following a disappointing second quarter.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Verb
  • The neighborhood This is one of Bangkok’s oldest districts, where street kitchens still dish up 100-year-old family recipes and crumbling shophouses line the road.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Plague death exposes Putin's crumbling grip as war and economy spiral downward.
    — , FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of crumble
Noun
  • Radioisotope power systems convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Conversely, modern concrete is subject to irreversible decay, a form of disintegration owing to its formation as a composite of cement and aggregate materials, such as gravel and sand.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • Some experts point to worsening public health since the 2008 financial crisis, citing factors such as growing obesity, long hospital waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis and other social causes.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • His latest promise — which, like the others, would require approval from Congress — would probably cost more than $1 trillion, adding to the ballooning deficit and worsening inflation.
    — Melissa Goldin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsen
Noun
  • This weakening of the trade winds then allows the warm water to flow towards the west coast of South America instead.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • By Wednesday next week, the moisture plume from the weakening storm will arrive in Arizona and New Mexico with the potential for flash floods and lingering tropical showers throughout the desert.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakening

Browse Nearby Words

atrophies
atrophy
atrophying
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Cite this Entry

“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on atrophy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about atrophy

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