dit-IR-ee-ur-ay-ting
/dɪˈtɪɹiɚˌeɪtɪŋ/
Deteriorating is pronounced dit-IR-ee-ur-ay-ting (/dɪˈtɪɹiɚˌeɪtɪŋ/). Deteriorating is an adjective describing something in the process of getting worse in condition or quality. It implies ongoing decline and gradual degradation over time, often used for physical, environmental, or situational factors. The term emphasizes progression, not a sudden change, and is commonly used in formal or analytical contexts.
adjectiveDeteriorating is an adjective describing something in the process of getting worse in condition or quality. It implies ongoing decline and gradual degradation over time, often used for physical, environmental, or situational factors. The term emphasizes progression, not a sudden change, and is commonly used in formal or analytical contexts.
- You may flatten the /ɪˈtɪər/ into a quick /ɪˈtə/; ensure you preserve the long 'eer' vowel before the -i- sound. - Resist turning /eɪ/ into /e/ or /i:/; keep the /eɪ/ in the second syllable rather than a pure /iː/. - Avoid trailing off the final -ing; pronounce /ɪŋ/ clearly with a soft tip-of-tongue contact. Practice the sequence de-TEER-ee-uh-ting with crisp onset and stable vowel length.
"The building’s safety could be compromised as its structure is deteriorating."
"Her health has been deteriorating since the accident, requiring closer medical monitoring."
"The condition of the roads is deteriorating due to chronic neglect and weather."
Break it as de-TEER-ee-uh-ting with primary stress on the second syllable: /dɪˈtɪər.iˌeɪtɪŋ/ in US; /dɪˈtiː.rɪˌeə.tɪŋ/ in UK. Start with a light, short 'd' plus a clipped 'di' syllable, stress the 'teer' portion, then a quick 'ee-uh' before the 'ting'. Keep the /ɪə/ sequence smooth, and finish with /tɪŋ/. Visualize the mouth opening for /dɪˈtɪə/ then a tight closure for /ˌeɪtɪŋ/.
Two common mistakes: 1) Misplacing the primary stress on the third syllable (de-te ri-)
US tends to reduce the 'ea' to /ɪə/ or /ɪə/, UK often keeps a clearer /ˈtiː/ or /ˈtɪə/ depending on the speaker; AU often merges vowels further and may have a flatter /ɪə/. In all, the main stress remains on the second syllable, with subtle vowel shifts.
Because it contains a multi-syllabic sequence with a mid-focused diphthong and an abrupt rhotic or non-rhotic ending depending on accent; the primary stress is on the second syllable but the derived suffix -ing changes the vowel timing and the following syllables quicken, requiring careful cadence.
The combination of the stressed -teer- portion and the derived -ing suffix creates a two-part rhythm where the 'teer' vowel is elongated in some accents; mastering the transition from /ˈtɪər/ or /ˈtiːə/ to /ɪŋ/ is key.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity lightly; keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable short and allow the /ˈtɪər/ sequence to be prominent. - UK: maintain clearer vowel distinctions in /ˈtiːər/ or /ˈtɪə/ depending on speaker; avoid over-merging the /eɪ/ into /iː/. - AU: vowels can be flatter; ensure the /ˈtiːər/ or /ˈtɪə/ remains distinct from /ɪŋ/; keep the final -ing unstressed in typical connected speech.
Deteriorating comes from the verb deteriorate, formed in the 17th century from the Latin deteriorare, itself a combination of de- (reverse, undo) and deteriorare (to make worse). The noun deterioration existed earlier, with -ing forms later turning the verb into an adjective describing ongoing action. The core notion centers on decline in value, quality, or condition. The Latin root deteriorare combines de- with the verb ternere ‘to make worse’ (relating to ‘terere,’ to rub away, or ‘to wear down’ in some proposals). Through French influence, deteriorer evolved in English to describe processes that worsen over time. By the early modern period, deteriorating became a common way to express progressive decline in both physical states (materials, health) and abstract states (economic conditions, reputations). The word gained traction in scientific and medical discourse as longitudinal observations highlighted gradual degradation, and this sense persists in contemporary usage, including journalism, policy analysis, and clinical reporting. First known use appears in English texts in the early 1600s, with the sense expanding alongside the growth of the verb deteriorate and related nouns.” ,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Deteriorating" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Deteriorating" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Deteriorating"
-ing sounds
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