deteriorating
Declining in quality
Deteriorating describes something growing worse over time.
A deteriorating building is falling into disrepair.
Deteriorating health is declining.
Deteriorating relations between countries are worsening.
The word implies gradual decay rather than sudden collapse: The situation has been deteriorating for months.
Organic breakdown process
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
- putrefyDecompose with stench
- festerDecay or seethe inside
- moldForm-giving container
spoil · compost · perish · mildew · blight · sour · wilt · rancid
Becoming more severe
- regressionReturn to former state
- downturnEconomic decline period
- slumpExtended period of decline
- slideSmooth continuous movement
spiral · tailspin · plunge · nosedive · freefall · descent · drop · fall
Flaw in one's nature
- ailingIn poor health
- worseningBecoming more severe
- sickeningCausing disgust or nausea
- weakeningBecoming less strong
debilitating · degenerating · declining · fading · languishing · withering · chronic · terminal
Using poorly, inefficiently
- shrinkageDecrease in size
- muscleContractile body tissue
- cachexiaSevere illness-induced wasting
- emaciationExtreme bodily thinness
dystrophy · withering · shriveling · weakening · degeneration · disuse · immobilization · debilitation
Lowering in worth
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- cheapeningReducing in value
- worseningBecoming more severe
- inferiorOf lower rank
substandard · compromised · impaired · defective · faulty · flawed · shoddy · slippage
Destroy through chemical action
- rustIron oxide coating
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- weatherAtmospheric state outdoors
abrade · wear · crumble · leach · scour · pit · flake · peel
Fragment gradually
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- fractureSplit in hard material
- splinterThin sharp fragment
shatter · disintegrate · collapse · dilapidate · ramshackle · decrepit · rundown · shabby
rot
Organic breakdown process
mold · spoil · compost · perish · mildew · blight · sour · wilt · rancid · stale
worsening
Becoming more severe
- regressionReturn to former state
- downturnEconomic decline period
- slumpExtended period of decline
slide · spiral · tailspin · plunge · nosedive · freefall · descent · drop · fall · sinking
failing
Flaw in one's nature
weakening · debilitating · degenerating · declining · fading · languishing · withering · chronic · terminal · prognosis
wasting
Using poorly, inefficiently
emaciation · dystrophy · withering · shriveling · weakening · degeneration · disuse · immobilization · debilitation · senescence
degrading
Lowering in worth
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- cheapeningReducing in value
- worseningBecoming more severe
inferior · substandard · compromised · impaired · defective · faulty · flawed · shoddy · slippage · inconsistent
corrode
Destroy through chemical action
weather · abrade · wear · crumble · leach · scour · pit · flake · peel · chip
crumble
Fragment gradually
splinter · shatter · disintegrate · collapse · dilapidate · ramshackle · decrepit · rundown · shabby · tattered
- deterioratingdecaying, decomposing, degrading, rotting, eroding
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- surface conditionscracked, damaged, dirty, clean, weathered
- spoilagerotten, stale, moldy, rotting, spoiled
- spoiledrotten, rotted, rotting, spoiled, spoiling
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
deterioratingimproving
Becoming more capable
getting better · recovering · bettering · ameliorating · progressing
deterioratingstable
Secure and unchanging
steady · holding · maintaining · preserved · sustained
deterioratingrestoring
Returning to original condition
repairing · rebuilding · mending · renovating · rehabilitating