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Definition/Meaning

(verb)

to become worse over time, or to make something become worse;

e.g. The illness will cause her health to deteriorate, but this medicine can make her get better.

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Similar Words

Abase

Atrophy

Bastardize

Canker

Cheapen

Corrupt

Crumble

Debase

Debauch

Decay

Decline

Degenerate

Degrade

Demean

Demoralize

Deprave

Descend

Devolve

Ding

Ebb

Lessen

Morph

Pervert

Poison

Profane

Prostitute

Regress

Retrograde

Rot

Rust

Scotch

Sink

Subvert

Undermine

Vitiate

Warp

Worsen

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Opposite Words

Advance

Age

Ameliorate

Amend

Better

Clarify

Cleanse

Comeback

Convalesce

Develop

Dignify

Enhance

Enrich

Exalt

Fortify

Gain

Grow

Heal

Heighten

Honor

Improve

Intensify

March

Mature

Mend

Perfect

Proceed

Progress

Purify

Rally

Recoup

Recover

Recuperate

Refine

Respect

Restore

Ripen

Snapback

Strengthen

Upgrade

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Related Words

Abate

Annihilate

Befoul

Begrime

Blemish

Bloody

Break

Breakdown

Change

Compromise

Contaminate

Corrupt

Crab

Cream

Cripple

Damage

De-escalate

Debilitate

Decay

Decimate

Decompose

Deface

Defile

Degrade

Demolish

Depreciate

Descend

Desolate

Destroy

Devastate

Dilute

Diminish

Disfigure

Disgrace

Dishonor

Disintegrate

Disintegration

Downgrade

Downsize

Droop

Dwindle

Emaciate

Endamage

Extinguish

Fade

Fail

Fall

Flag

Flaw

Fluctuate

Go

Harm

Humble

Humiliate

Hurt

Impair

Injure

Lag

Languish

Lessen

Lower

Mar

Mold

Molder

Mutate

Nuke

Perish

Pollute

Pulverize

Putrefy

Raze

Recede

Reduce

Rot

Ruin

Sag

Shame

Shatter

Shift

Sink

Slip

Smash

Snap

Sour

Spoil

Stain

Taint

Tarnish

Thin

Total

Undermine

Vaporize

Vary

Vitiate

Wane

Waste

Weaken

Wilt

Wither

Wrack

Wreck

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