deteriorating 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in deteriorated

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2
as in declining

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Dissimilar Words

deteriorating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deteriorate
1
as in crumbling
to become worse or of less value the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 deteriorating
Adjective
The Federal Bureau of Prisons closed the site in 2024 due to deteriorating conditions and understaffing. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
Verb
The conditions for Palestinians living in the West Bank are deteriorating rapidly. — Michael Robbins, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026 Park advocates have long argued that the existing city allocation is inadequate, leaving neighborhoods with decaying recreation centers, deteriorating swimming pools and filthy park bathrooms. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 In India, the traditional ladder to success is deteriorating. — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026 Extending the golf course to the water’s edge probably would have to be coordinated with the reconstruction of the long-deteriorating sea wall that wraps around the peninsula. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026 Leaky roofs, inefficient heating and deteriorating buildings — those are just a few of the improvements that need to be made within Lodi schools. — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 Unless the industry does more to demonstrate AI’s tangible benefits, Cramer worries deteriorating public sentiment could become another headwind for an already fragile market. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Complaints from students about deteriorating schools, teacher shortages and heavy class schedules have become the latest cause embraced by some presidential hopefuls. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 In schools, lead can come from deteriorating paint or from old plumbing, where water that sits unused in pipes can pick up lead. — Rebecca Smullin Dawson, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorating
  1. deteriorated
  2. declining
  3. crumbling
  4. degrading
  5. decaying
  6. fading
  7. worsening
  8. weakening
Adjective
  • Clark said the supports are needed because equipment used in the investigation is too heavy and difficult to maneuver safely on the deteriorated floor.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • According to the officer, the decision to classify Sands' death as such was the result of the deteriorated condition of his body.
    — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Definition of deteriorated
Adjective
  • While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
    — Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
  • 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.
    — Fox News, Fox News, 15 May 2020
Definition of declining
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
  • Local farms face ever degrading soil conditions, tougher markets and more extreme weather patterns.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Germany's Constitutional Court ruled last year that the extradition was unlawful because it could not be guaranteed that the defendant would not be subject to inhumane or degrading treatment in Hungarian custody.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of degrading
Adjective
  • Liberal critics, however, argued—also rightly—that the Soviet Union was a decaying, economically crippled giant by the time Reagan was inaugurated.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.
    — Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Definition of decaying
Adjective
  • The classic budget-friendly design features a high-rise waistband that stays put, stretchy fabric that’s moisture-wicking and non-fading, and versatile colors like classic black and army green.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
  • In Aniara, the entire natural world is simply absent, a fading, unsustainable memory of something once alive.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
Definition of fading
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
  • While critics claim the court cases are politically motivated and aimed at weakening the opposition, the government insists the country’s judiciary is independent and free from political influence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Those tasks had often depended on personal relationships rather than formal job requirements, and the researchers found those ties were weakening.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakening

Browse Nearby Words

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deteriorating
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Cite this Entry

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

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