Deteriorating
dɪˈtɪəriəreɪtɪŋ
Definitions
To become progressively worse; to diminish in quality, character, or condition.
dɪˈtɪəriəreɪtɪŋ
Becoming progressively worse; declining in quality, character, or condition.
The relationship between the two countries was rapidly deteriorating.
💡 Simply: Imagine a delicious sandwich you left out all day. Deteriorating is what's happening to it as it gets stale, and yucky – becoming not so good!
👶 For kids: When something is getting worse and worse, like a toy that's breaking.
More Examples
The patient's condition began deteriorating after the surgery.
The quality of the product had been deteriorating over time.
How It's Used
"The economy is deteriorating rapidly."
"His health was slowly deteriorating."
"The environmental conditions of the area are deteriorating."
Idioms & expressions
deteriorating situation
A situation that is becoming worse, often with negative consequences.
"The government is trying to stabilize the deteriorating situation in the region."
deteriorating health
Describes someone's health is getting worse.
"Her deteriorating health forced her to retire early."
From Latin *dēterior* ('worse') + the suffix '-ate' (denoting a verb) and '-ing' (present participle). The word originally signified 'to make worse' or 'to become worse'.
Used since the 17th century, initially in scientific contexts to describe the decay of materials or substances, and later expanded to cover social and political decline.
Memory tip
Think of something that's getting rotten or breaking down. Deteriorating is that process.