disimprove
Decline in quality
Disimprove means to make worse or become worse—the opposite of improve.
The word is rare and somewhat awkward, since worsen or deteriorate usually serve better: The patient's condition disimproved overnight.
It appears occasionally in British English and formal contexts where a direct antonym to improve is wanted.
Revert to bad habits
- relapseReturn to former illness
- revertReturn to earlier condition
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- recedeMove back from
retrogress · lapse · retrograde · fallback · recidivism · reversion · throwback · reversal
backslide
Revert to bad habits
recede · retrogress · lapse · retrograde · fallback · recidivism · reversion · throwback · reversal · backtracking
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
corrode · disintegrate · decompose · degenerate · atrophy · wither · fester · spoil · perish · oxidize
worsen
Become more severe
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- degradeLower in standing
- diminishTo make smaller
decrease · drop · fall · slip · slide · slump · dip · ebb · wane · downturn
disimproveimprove
Raise in quality
get better · ameliorate · enhance · develop · advance