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détériorer

to deteriorate

verb deh-teh-ryo-REH Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Also means

to damage

Usage Note

Détériorer is used both transitively ('the damp damaged the walls') and reflexively — se détériorer means 'to worsen' or 'to deteriorate' on its own. The reflexive form is very common in news contexts: la situation se détériore. The related noun is la détérioration.

Examples

"L'humidité détériore les murs."

Natural Translation

Moisture damages the walls.

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