deteriorate
dih-TEER-ee-uh-raytverbMeaning to become worse
Memory hook de-TEAR-iorate: one TEAR, then more. Kai’s old kite starts with one small tear; after a week of wind, it is more holes than kite. It has deteriorated.
Left out in the rain, the old book deteriorated until its pages stuck together.
In context The weather deteriorated as the hikers climbed: sunshine gave way to clouds, then sleet, and finally a blinding snowstorm.
Similar worsen, decline, decay, degenerate
Opposite improve, recover
From Latin deteriorare, “to make worse,” from deterior, worse.