| Main Entry: |
deteriorate |
| Part of Speech: |
verb |
| Definition: |
decay, degenerate |
Synonyms: |
adulterate, alloy, be worse for wear, become worse,
break, corrode,
corrupt,
crumble,
debase,
debilitate,
decline, decompose,
degrade, deprave,
depreciate,
descend, disimprove,
disintegrate,
ebb,
fade,
fail, fall apart,
flag, go downhill, go to pieces, go to pot, go to the dogs, hit the skids,
impair, injure,
languish,
lapse,
lessen, lose it, lose quality,
lower,
mar,
pervert,
regress, retrograde, retrogress,
rot,
sink, skid,
slide,
spoil,
undermine,
vitiate,
weaken, wear away,
worsen
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| Notes: |
to degenerate means 'to decline in value, move lower on a scale' but to deteriorate means 'to worsen, to become lowered, or be reduced in value'; degenerate pertains more to character and virtue while deteriorate is more about loss of strength or vitality |
Antonyms: |
build, construct, develop, get better, improve
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