deteriorate (dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt
)
Definitions
verb
- to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate
- (intr) to wear away or disintegrate
Alternative Forms
deˌterioˈration noun deˈteriorative adjectiveWord Origin
C16: from Late Latin dēteriōrāre, from Latin dēterior worseSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
decline,
worsen,
degenerate,
fall,
fail,
drop,
slip,
sink,
slide,
slump,
degrade,
depreciate,
go downhill,
go to the dogs,
go down the tubes
go to pot,
go to rack and ruin be the worse for wear
=
disintegrate,
rot,
decay,
spoil,
fade,
break down,
go off,
weaken,
crumble,
fall apart,
perish,
ebb,
degenerate,
decompose,
go bad,
wear away,
putrefy,
retrogress,
Translations
- British English:
deteriorate
If something deteriorates, it becomes worse.His health steadily deteriorated.dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt VERB His health steadily deteriorated.
- Spanish:
deteriorarse
v
- French:
détériorer
vt
- German: verschlechtern (sich) v
- Chinese: 恶化 v
- Arabic: يَتَدَهْوَرُ v
- Portuguese: deteriorar v
- Russian: ухудшать v
- Croatian: propadati v
- Czech: zhoršit (se) v horšit (se)
- Danish: forværre v
- Dutch: verslechteren v
- Finnish: huonontua v
- Greek: επιδεινώνω v
- Italian: deteriorare v
- Japanese: 悪化する v
- Korean: 악화시키다 v
- Norwegian: forverre v
- Polish: pogorszyć v pogarszać
- Brazilian Portuguese: deteriorar v
- European Spanish:
deteriorarse
v
- Swedish: försämras v
- Thai: เสื่อมโทรม v
- Turkish: kötülemek v
- Vietnamese: xấu đi v
Usage examples
The heat of the place was remarkable; I felt my collar grow soft and hoped that my appearance would not deteriorate too rapidly.
, Anti-Ice (1993)'We already get less than we deserve, so the position must not deteriorate further.
Country Life (2004)By that age, women's fertility and men's sperm start to deteriorate.
Ottawa Sun (2003)Jennifer's condition continued to deteriorate over the weekend.
Sun, News of the World (2002)Seeing your looks deteriorate only makes you feel even more depressed.
, Life Without Work (1994)