deteriorate
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
deteriorates;
deteriorated;
deteriorating
deteriorates;
deteriorated;
deteriorating
Britannica Dictionary definition of DETERIORATE
1
[no object]
:
to become worse as time passes
-
The weather gradually deteriorated [=worsened] as the day went on.
-
Her health continues to deteriorate. [=decline]
-
efforts to save a deteriorating rain forest
-
The disagreement deteriorated into a fight. [=the disagreement got worse and eventually became a fight]
2
[+ object]
:
to make (something) worse
-
Exposure to rain and sun will gradually deteriorate the paint.
— deteriorated
adjective-
a deteriorated [=run-down, dilapidated] building
-
a badly deteriorated part of the city
