1. causing or tending to cause deterioration; making something worse in quality, condition, or value
Usage: formal; often used in technical or scientific contexts

Examples

• Prolonged exposure to sunlight has a deteriorative effect on the paint's color.
• The deteriorative process of rust can be slowed with proper maintenance.
• Stress can have deteriorative effects on both mental and physical health.
• The report warned of deteriorative conditions in the aging infrastructure.
• Humidity is a deteriorative factor for many delicate historical documents.
• The medication's deteriorative impact on kidney function required careful monitoring.