atrophy 1 of 2

verb

Definition of atrophynext
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

atrophy

2 of 2

noun

as in degeneration

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of atrophy
Verb
Spending more than six months in space comes with other potential health risks, including the weakening and loss of bone and atrophying muscles. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 26 May 2026 Building that processing infrastructure at commercial scale in the US involves not only capital expenditure but also workforce development in a sector where domestic technical expertise has atrophied. — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
Noun
For millions of people with geographic atrophy, the speck in their vision is far more literal and can eventually lead to blindness. — New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026 Bengals may be affected by heart disease, progressive retinal atrophy and pyruvate kinase deficiency. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atrophy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy
  1. deteriorate
  2. degeneration
  3. decline
  4. deterioration
  5. crumble
  6. decay
  7. worsen
  8. weakening
Verb
  • Behrouz Mehri | Afp | Getty Images France's deteriorating public finances and political deadlock are becoming a growing concern for bond investors, with borrowing costs near financial-crisis-era highs as another difficult budget battle looms.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Israel has seen its own relations with Turkey deteriorate during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Noun
  • Estimates suggest that around 20% of US adults show disc degeneration by age 65.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • People are doing this now to treat – this is not our work – but to treat like forms of retinal degeneration and blindness actually.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of degeneration
Verb
  • Castro was released from a Texas jail last week after a judge declined to order his return to Minnesota.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As a result of these shifts, in the last year, while the Nifty 50 has declined by more than 2%, the Nifty Midcap 150 index is up 10%, as per LSEG data.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of decline
Noun
  • The City is aware of deterioration to the pavers surrounding the memorial related to the seawall conditions in this section of the Riverwalk.
    — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The deterioration in DeepMind’s talent flows coincided with the lab tightening its publication rules, Hurd said, something that Zeki researchers say may have weakened one of the lab’s most important draws for research-minded staff.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Verb
  • The tram no longer goes to this part of town, and the street itself is slowly gone, the asphalt crumbling into dust.
    — Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In a dystopian world of desperation and war, small glimmers of hope keep society from crumbling completely.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumble
Noun
  • In a total power blackout, the plant removes residual decay heat through natural convection rather than emergency electrical pumps or operator intervention.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Waytowich said crime is a symptom of much deeper problems on the north side of Jacksonville, from neighborhood decay to generational trauma and lack of job opportunities.
    — Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • Conflict between the government and rebel groups in the eastern region, attacks on health workers and an intense population movement also have worsened the outbreak.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Venezuela’s oil output began to stagnate, a situation which worsened further after the coup attempt of April 2002.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsen
Noun
  • Rapid weakening, however, is expected after the center of the storm moves inland.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the G20 meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington wouldn't object if Tokyo intervened to support a weakening yen.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakening

Browse Nearby Words

atrophies
atrophy
atrophying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on atrophy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about atrophy

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