(of a living thing) Opposite of to get bigger physically through natural development
“He had an autoimmune disease that made him shrink in size over time.”
(on the body) Opposite of to develop something, typically a kind of natural growth
“Thank you for highlighting the fact that I'm starting to lose my hair.”
(a plant or vegetable) Opposite of to sprout or germinate
“The drought had caused the vegetation to wither and die, much to the chagrin of farmers.”
(with object) Opposite of to cause vegetation or plants to germinate and develop
“If you don't water the garden, you're going to kill everything that lives there.”
(a business) Opposite of to advance, develop, or expand
“After being at the forefront of manufacturing for the last decade, the company's profits were starting to decline due to a lack of innovation.”
Opposite of to develop or progress
Opposite of to grow and harvest plants or crops
Opposite of to reach a specified state or condition
“The food will stay fresh if you keep it in the refrigerator.”
Opposite of to develop gradually
“Within the extreme conditions of total war, the whole of society can retrogress to a primitive state.”
Opposite of to develop or thrive in a promising or healthy way
“Anyone would struggle in a toxic work environment.”
Opposite of to benefit from
“You will have nothing to gain and everything to lose if you continue this gambling habit.”
Opposite of to improve through the addition of features
“Adding too many widgets to our interface will only worsen our software.”
Opposite of to originate or stem (from)
Opposite of to make a transition or change
“I will continue to remain a blonde after my visit to the hairdresser.”
Opposite of to help or encourage the growth or development of
“Pushy and overenthusiastic parents may consciously or unconsciously hinder their children's development and make them more prone to early burnout and mental fatigue.”
Opposite of to change or cause to change in nature, state, form, or color
Opposite of liven up
(of a sound) Opposite of to become louder or higher in pitch
“His anger dissipated and his tone would gradually hush as he calmed down.”
Opposite of to appear or come into existence, especially suddenly
“The meerkats seem to disappear as quickly as they appear.”
Opposite of to be exceptionally proficient in an activity or subject
“He had the perfect physique to be a professional athlete, which was so ironic considering his innate ability to fail at every sport he played.”
Related Words and Phrases
|