What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deteriority
Example
The company's financial situation showed signs of deteriority over the past year. [deteriority: noun]
Example
The building's structure has been affected by years of neglect, leading to its deteriority. [deteriority: noun]
degradation
Example
The degradation of the soil quality led to poor crop yields. [degradation: noun]
Example
The company's reputation suffered from the degradation of its customer service. [degradation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Degradation is more commonly used than deteriority in everyday language, especially in specific contexts such as environmental or social degradation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deteriority and degradation?
Both deteriority and degradation can be used in formal and informal contexts, but deteriority may be perceived as more technical or specialized due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.