Cool MateDeteriorate vs Make them worse
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Deteriorate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Make them worse
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Deteriorate
| Deteriorate | Make them worse | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈtɪəriəreɪt/","/dɪˈtɪəriəreɪts/","/dɪˈtɪəriəreɪtɪd/","/dɪˈtɪəriəreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈtɪriəreɪt/","/dɪˈtɪriəreɪts/","/dɪˈtɪriəreɪtɪd/","/dɪˈtɪriəreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ðɛm wɜːs//🇺🇸 //meɪk ðɛm wɜrs// |
| Meaning | to become worse over time | To cause something to become more negative or difficult. |
| Example | Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. | His constant complaints only make them worse. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | badly, seriously, severely, begin to, continue to, be likely to, into | make them worse, can make it worse, will only make it worse |
| Antonyms | improve, enhance, repair | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'depreciate' when discussing value loss., Used intransitively, e.g., 'The situation deteriorates.' should specify what is deteriorating., Overusing it in contexts where simpler words like 'get worse' could apply. | Using 'make them bad' instead of 'make them worse'., Confusing 'make better' with 'make worse'., Incorrectly assuming 'worse' is not gradable. |
| Usage notes | Used in both speaking and writing to describe things that are getting worse, such as physical health, buildings, or relationships. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing specific issues. | Used to describe actions or situations that lead to a decline in quality or condition. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Deteriorate vs Make them worse
What's the difference between Deteriorate and Make them worse?
Deteriorate: to become worse over time Make them worse: To cause something to become more negative or difficult.
Which is more common: Deteriorate and Make them worse?
Deteriorate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Deteriorate: Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. Make them worse: His constant complaints only make them worse.
Can I use Deteriorate and Make them worse interchangeably?
Not always. Deteriorate and Make them worse are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.