Library / English Dictionary

DETERIORATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Grow worse

Example:

The discussion devolved into a shouting match

Synonyms:

degenerate; deteriorate; devolve; drop

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "deteriorate" is one way to...):

decline; worsen (grow worse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "deteriorate"):

fatigue; jade; pall; tire; weary (lose interest or become bored with something or somebody)

fade; languish (become feeble)

rot; waste (become physically weaker)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Antonym:

recuperate (get over an illness or shock)

Derivation:

deterioration (process of changing to an inferior state)

deterioration (a symptom of reduced quality or strength)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become worse or disintegrate

Example:

His mind deteriorated

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "deteriorate" is one way to...):

crumble; decay; dilapidate (fall into decay or ruin)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "deteriorate"):

go to pot; go to the dogs (become ruined)

wear; wear down; wear off; wear out; wear thin (deteriorate through use or stress)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

deterioration (process of changing to an inferior state)

deterioration (a symptom of reduced quality or strength)

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