noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/dɪˌtɪəɹɪəˈɹeɪʃən/
UK, proscribed:/dɪˌtɪəɹɪˈeɪʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/dəˌti.ɹi.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
US, proscribed:/dəˌtiɹiˈeɪʃən/
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 T IH1 R IY0 ER0 EY2 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The process of making or growing worse, or the state of having grown worse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aggravation, retrogression, worsening
Antonyms: amelioration
2
noun
Meaning 2
process of changing to an inferior state
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: decline in quality, declension, worsening
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: decline, diminution
Narrower terms: slump, slack, drop-off, falloff, falling off
3
noun
Meaning 3
a symptom of reduced quality or strength
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.