Deteriorates — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt/ de·te·ri·o·rate

Meaning & Definition of Deteriorates

Deteriorates (verb)

  1. to make worse or lower in quality or value, impair
  2. disintegrate
  3. to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition, become gradually worse

Deteriorates (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect"

    similar: atrophies, crumbles, decays, declines, degenerates, descends, devolves, ebbs, regresses, retrogrades, rots, sinks, worsens, goes to pot, goes to seed
    related: abates, de-escalates, diminishes, downsizes, dwindles, recedes, wanes, breaks down, corrupts, decomposes, degrades, dilapidates, disintegrates, molders, putrefies, sours, spoils, lessens, lowers, reduces, debilitates, undermines, droops, fails, falls, flags, lags, languishes, runs down, sags, slips, wastes (away), weakens, wilts
    opposite: ameliorates, improves, meliorates
    near: betters, upgrades, enhances, enriches, fortifies, heightens, intensifies, strengthens, advances, develops, marches, proceeds, progresses

  2. to lower in character, dignity, or quality

    "childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue"

    similar: abases, bastardizes, cankers, cheapens, corrupts, debases, debauches, degrades, demeans, demoralizes, depraves, lessens, perverts, poisons, profanes, prostitutes, subverts, vitiates, warps
    related: befouls, begrimes, contaminates, defiles, dilutes, dirties, pollutes, taints, thins, waters down, weakens, descends, disgraces, dishonors, humbles, humiliates, shames, takes down, blemishes, damages, defaces, destroys, flaws, harms, hurts, impairs, mars, ruins, spoils, stains, tarnishes, wrecks, depreciates, downgrades
    opposite: elevates, ennobles, uplifts
    near: dignifies, exalts, honors, ameliorates, amends, betters, enhances, enriches, improves, meliorates, perfects, clarifies, cleans, cleanses, purifies, refines, restores, respects

Related Entry: Deteriorate (verb)

Deteriorate is a different word from Deteriorates. The synonyms below are for deteriorate, not for deteriorates.

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect"

    similar: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

  2. to lower in character, dignity, or quality

    "childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue"

    similar: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debase, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp
    related: befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken, descend, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down, blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck, depreciate, downgrade
    opposite: elevate, ennoble, uplift
    near: dignify, exalt, honor, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore, respect

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deteriorates

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deteriorates:

atrophies, crumbles, decays, declines, degenerates, descends, devolves, ebbs, regresses, retrogrades, rots, sinks, worsens, abases, bastardizes, cankers, cheapens, corrupts, debases, debauches, degrades, demeans, demoralizes, depraves, lessens, perverts, poisons, profanes, prostitutes, subverts, vitiates, warps, goes to pot, goes to seed

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deteriorates

Words with the opposite meaning of Deteriorates:

ameliorates, improves, meliorates, elevates, ennobles, uplifts

Related Words for Deteriorates

abates, de-escalates, diminishes, downsizes, dwindles, recedes, wanes, breaks down, decomposes, dilapidates, disintegrates, molders, putrefies, sours, spoils, lowers, reduces, debilitates, undermines, droops, fails, falls, flags, lags, languishes, runs down, sags, slips, wastes (away), weakens

Near Antonyms of Deteriorates

betters, upgrades, enhances, enriches, fortifies, heightens, intensifies, strengthens, advances, develops, marches, proceeds, progresses, dignifies, exalts, honors, amends, perfects, clarifies, cleans, cleanses, purifies, refines, restores, respects

Word Forms of Deteriorates

Inflections: deteriorated, deteriorating

Derived words: deteriorative (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Deteriorates

Late Latin deterioratus, past participle of deteriorare, from Latin deterior worse, from de- + -ter (suffix as in Latin uter which of two) + -ior (comparative suffix) whether:2, -er

First known use: 1572t

Frequently Asked Questions about Deteriorates

What does "Deteriorates" mean?

"Deteriorates" means to make worse or lower in quality or value, impair. As a verb, it is defined as: to make worse or lower in quality or value, impair. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deteriorates"?

Other words for "Deteriorates" include atrophies, crumbles, decays, declines, degenerates, descends, devolves and ebbs. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deteriorates" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deteriorates"?

There are 96 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deteriorates". Common alternatives include atrophies, crumbles, decays, declines, degenerates, descends, devolves, ebbs, regresses and retrogrades.

What is the opposite of "Deteriorates"?

Antonyms of "Deteriorates" include ameliorates, improves, meliorates, elevates, ennobles and uplifts. Near antonyms include betters, upgrades, enhances and enriches.

How do you use "Deteriorates" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deteriorates" in a sentence: "the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect"; "childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue".

Is "Deteriorates" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deteriorates" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Deteriorates"?

"Deteriorates" is pronounced /di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt/ and divided into syllables as de·te·ri·o·rate.

What is the origin of the word "Deteriorates"?

"Deteriorates" comes from Late Latin deterioratus, past participle of deteriorare, from Latin deterior worse, from de- + -ter (suffix as in Latin uter which of two) + -ior (comparative suffix) whether:2, -er. First known use: 1572t.