deteriorationism

noun

A belief that things tend to grow progressively worse.

Scrabble 19
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Meanings

noundeteriorationism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA belief that things tend to grow progressively worse.

    Emotionally, Peacock was always drawn to deteriorationism, and in this novel he seems to feel that every facet of public life has grown more corrupt.

    1985, Bryan Burns, The novels of Thomas Love Peacock

Origin

From deterioration + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

deteriorationism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deteriorationism

MLA

“deteriorationism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deteriorationism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deteriorationism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deteriorationism.

Source: deteriorationism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.