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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in degeneration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Rush Doshi, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2024
In a weightless environment, muscles aren't used as much, which can lead to them weakening and atrophying.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2024
Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
In 2023, the Willis family shared that Bruce had received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive condition which causes the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain to atrophy.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrophy 
Verb
But the foundations of that strength have atrophied, especially since the end of the Cold War.
—Rush Doshi, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2024
In a weightless environment, muscles aren't used as much, which can lead to them weakening and atrophying.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
When our companion always agrees, our critical thinking muscles atrophy.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
In 2023, the Willis family shared that Bruce had received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive condition which causes the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain to atrophy.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for atrophy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy
Verb
-
Conditions are deteriorating in a network of Syrian prisons holding terrorists of the Islamic State.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Forecasters warned that conditions could deteriorate quickly with little warning and suggested people park away from trees, charge electronics and be prepared to evacuate quickly if needed.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
While chubby cats may look cute, obesity can shorten their life and expose them to elevated risks of cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and hypertension, osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of affected joints, urinary bladder stones, and anesthetic complications.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
Newsweek,
18 Dec. 2024
-
These issues, now understood as symptoms of EDS, were caused by the disorder's impact on connective tissues, leading to joint instability and degeneration over time.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, on February 13th, the day Kennedy was confirmed, President Trump issued an executive order establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission to address rising rates of chronic diseases and declining life expectancies.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The average home price in the six-county region declined 0.4% from December to $862,115 in January, according to Zillow, marking the sixth consecutive month of declines.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
His environmental project launched the Institute’s research via an extensive study of the relationship between business practices and environmental deterioration.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
There is a real risk that cartels can fill the vacuum and worsen the mass migration in the region.—
MaryAlice Parks,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Resting the muscle by avoiding activities that aggravate the muscle injury and worsen the pain gives the muscle time to heal.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Those folks even named the local wildlife refuge after swinging Sony Bono, but what came next was toxic salinity and decay as less water came in and the water that remained increased in salinity.—
Dennis Hinkamp,
The Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Introduced in the 1940s to combat tooth decay, around 63 percent of the U.S. population receives fluoridated water, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), though this is not federally mandated.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The show from Sister and Universal International Studios is set in a near-future Margate, against a backdrop of soaring inequality, as Chance discovers life and love while being forced to fight for her family and friends’ survival in a world that’s crumbling around her.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Typically under him, Newcastle are not a team that crumbles after conceding.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Witnesses said they were caught off-guard by the agents descending on their homes and that many hid in their apartments, afraid federal agents would barge in.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC News,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The night of Charlotte FC’s inaugural home match — March 5, 2022 — when over 74,000 people descended on Bank of America Stadium and made for one of the most special nights in the city’s sports history.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near atrophy
Cite this Entry
“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share