deteriorate
verb [I] /dɪˈtɪə.ri.ə.reɪt/
/-ˈtɪr.i-/ Definition
C1 to become worse: She was taken into hospital last week when her condition suddenly deteriorated. The political situation in the region has deteriorated rapidly.Deteriorating and making worse deterioration /dɪˌtɪə.ri.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
/-ˌtɪr.i-/ noun [C or U] › We've seen a deterioration in relations between the countries.Deteriorating and making worse
/-ˌtɪr.i-/ noun [C or U] › We've seen a deterioration in relations between the countries.Deteriorating and making worse(Definition of deteriorate verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- a step backwards idiom
- a turn of the screw idiom
- aggravate verb (MAKE WORSE)
- backslide verb
- be half the dancer, writer, etc. you used to be idiom
- compound verb (WORSEN)
- decline verb (GO DOWN)
- degrade verb (SPOIL)
- downgrade noun
- exacerbate verb
- fan the flames idiom
- for the worse idiom
- from the sublime to the ridiculous idiom
- go off phrasal verb (BECOME WORSE)
- retrograde adjective
- retrogress verb
- run (sth) down phrasal verb (LOSE POWER)
- run yourself down phrasal verb
- seed noun (PLANT)
- slip verb (GET WORSE)
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