atrophying

verb

present participle of atrophy
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 atrophying The Jersey boys had been sidelined from touring since 2022 after frontman Jon Bon Jovi was diagnosed with an atrophying vocal cord. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 July 2026 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 And to society, the implications of such blatant cronyism could be sweeping, from atrophying regulation and loss of accountability to further concentration of power and money among the wealthiest people on Earth. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026 Language skills at the department are also atrophying. — Byron Tau, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 Horvath blames educational technology (EdTech) for these atrophying skillsets, arguing that at the turn of the 21th century and through its first decade and a half, tech companies and advocates pushed a false narrative that the education system was broken, but computers could fix it. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophying
  1. deteriorating
  2. crumbling
  3. worsening
  4. declining
  5. descending
Verb
  • The sketch took aim at reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, including plumbing issues and mental-health struggles among the crew during their extended deployment.
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Massillon’s courage Throughout the attacks, Massillon was the first official to alert journalists, describing the deteriorating security situation while also appealing for help.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • Their complaints include inadequate staffing at schools, a lack of resources, crumbling infrastructure, and allegedly overpacked schedules.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • During her time in office, the city has weathered federal immigration raids and witnessed a continuing exit of Hollywood jobs, while residents complain about dirty, crumbling streets and homeless encampments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • If your neck pain is chronic, worsening or accompanied by other symptoms, that’s a conversation for a doctor or physical therapist, not a problem a vibrating neckband is going to solve.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But oil revenue has been particularly constrained by theft and pipeline vandalism that has cost the country about $300 billion in recent years, compounding in a worsening security crisis that has hampered the overall economy.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • Only its convenient foods division in Europe, the Middle East and Africa reported declining volume, of 1%.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Since the 1960s, bowling as a business has fallen, with the number of bowling centers in the United States declining by roughly 75% from a peak of about 12,000 to some 3,000.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of declining
Verb
  • The drive winds through the verdant mountains of eastern Antioquia before descending into the Aburrá Valley, where Medellín stretches across the valley floor and surrounding hillsides.
    — Nikkita Nair, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The tomb’s entrance passage, with narrowing walls and descending axis, creates a liminal stage to orient the body before entering the burial chamber.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of descending

Browse Nearby Words

atrophy
atrophying
at sea
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Atrophying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophying. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nexus

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All