deterioration

noun
UK: /dɪˌtɪəriəˈreɪʃən/
US: /dɪˌtɪriəˈreɪʃən/

  1. The process or state of becoming worse.

    1. The deterioration of his health worried his family.
    2. The building's deterioration was accelerated by neglect and severe weather.

  2. The act or process of decaying or breaking down.

    1. The deterioration of the old bridge made it unsafe.
    2. We observed the rapid deterioration of the antique furniture due to moisture exposure.

  3. A decline in quality or value.

    1. There was a deterioration in service after the company merged.
    2. The steady deterioration of their relationship was evident to everyone around them.

Synonyms

breakdown decay impairment degeneration decline
deterioration intransitive-verb

  1. To become progressively worse.

    1. The paint is starting to deteriorate from the sun.
    2. The patient's condition began to deteriorate rapidly overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "deterioration" in English means: The process or state of becoming worse., The act or process of decaying or breaking down., A decline in quality or value..

The phonetic transcription of "deterioration" is /dɪˌtɪəriəˈreɪʃən/ in British English and /dɪˌtɪriəˈreɪʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "deterioration": breakdown, decay, impairment, degeneration, decline.

Example usage of "deterioration": "The deterioration of his health worried his family.". More examples on the page.