ATROPHIES Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

atrophies

verb

present tense third-person singular of atrophy

as in deteriorates

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

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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 atrophies Otherwise the ability to work independently atrophies. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Marcus Pettersson Pettersson’s form, as is typical for most non-play driving defensive defencemen as the health of a wider two-way environment atrophies, has looked poor for long stretches of this season. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026 But if American political life continues to become coarser and more corrupt, and its hard power is repeatedly misused while its soft power atrophies, keeping those two things separate is going to be a lot more difficult. — Stephen M. Walt, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2025 The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke. — New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophies

Verb

Production volumes may remain high over a short period, even as supply security deteriorates.

— Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
As the charging system deteriorates, electronic features may stop working properly.

— Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of deteriorates

Verb

Therefore, analysts note that if extreme weather worsens water and power scarcity, the impact could ripple through the entire semiconductor supply chain.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Ford said in an interview published Monday that Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the trade war worsens, putting a potentially powerful weapon on the table.

— Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of worsens

Verb

As the plane descends, a lush landscape of verdant mountains that flow down into charming villages, beaches, and the crystal-clear waters beyond appears.

— Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Opening night 2027-28 Winnipeg can compete for the playoffs in 2027-28 if Björck ascends before Scheifele descends.

— Murat Ates, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of descends

Verb

The fee applies during the first 13 years of the agreement and gradually declines over the remaining initial term.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent findings show that early-career workers – ages 22 to 25 – in occupations most vulnerable to AI automation, such as software development and customer service, have experienced employment declines.

— Maria Black, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of declines

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atrophied

atrophies

atrophy

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“Atrophies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophies. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of atrophies

verb

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