English

Verb

deteriorate ‎(third-person singular simple present deteriorates, present participle deteriorating, simple past and past participle deteriorated)

1. (transitive) To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair.

   to deteriorate the mind

   • Southey

     The art of war, like every other art, ecclesiastical architecture alone excepted, was greatly deteriorated during those years of general degradation […]

2. (intransitive) To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.
   • 2011 January 8, Paul Fletcher, “Stevenage 3 - 1 Newcastle”, in BBC:

     It was turning into an abysmal afternoon for Newcastle and it deteriorated further when Tiote saw red for his challenge on Jon Ashton.

3. (informal) slang: to nerf (used in gaming) something which is overpowered .

Related terms

• deterioration
• deteriorative
• deteriorable

Synonyms

• worsen
• to go off (for foods)

Antonyms

• ameliorate
• better
• improve

Translations

Italian

Adjective

deteriorate

1. feminine plural of deteriorato

Verb

deteriorate

1. second-person plural present indicative of deteriorare
2. second-person plural imperative of deteriorare
3. feminine plural of deteriorato