Deteriorate

01 v. t. To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind.

imp. & p. p. Deteriorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating

1.
To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind.
“The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated.” — Southey.

02 v. i. To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.

1.
To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.
“Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates.” — Goldsmith.