degenerate
degenerate — verb
1. to steadily decline in quality, condition, or strength, often as part of a proce
to steadily decline in quality, condition, or strength, often as part of a process that is hard to stop
After Hari stopped attending rehearsals, the band's performance began to degenerate.
The discussion degenerated into a shouting match when Niran raised his voice.
degenerate + into + [worse state]
Without proper maintenance, the old factory's condition slowly degenerated over the decades.
What started as a polite debate degenerated into personal insults between Yumi and her colleague.
In the weeks after Niran stopped returning her calls, Élise watched their easy friendship degenerate into awkward silence.
- deteriorate
more common and neutral; used for physical things, relationships, or conditions
- decline
broader; can refer to quantity, quality, or health, not just moral or behavioural decline
- decay
suggests gradual rotting or breakdown, often with a stronger physical or organic sense
- improve
to become better
- strengthen
to become stronger, more effective
文法句型
degenerate + into + noun phrase
degenerate + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
This verb is usually intransitive. It is very often followed by 'into' to describe what something turns into as it worsens: 'The argument degenerated into a fight.'
常見錯誤
degenerate — adjective
1. having fallen to a low moral state, with standards of behavior that most people
having fallen to a low moral state, with standards of behavior that most people consider unacceptable. Describes a person, lifestyle, or action that shows a serious lack of moral principles.
The corrupt official led a degenerate life funded by stolen public money.
attributive use: degenerate + [lifestyle noun]
Manuela switched off the TV and told her roommate the network should not broadcast such degenerate content.
The journalist described the nightclub as a place filled with degenerate entertainment.
Paintings that the Nazis called degenerate art in the 1930s now hang in galleries in New York and London.
文法句型
degenerate + noun
be + degenerate
用法筆記
A strong word used to criticize someone's character or actions harshly. It carries a judgement of serious moral failure, so use with care in everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
2. in mathematics, describing a case of a general type that is simpler or different
in mathematics, describing a case of a general type that is simpler or different from the usual form, usually found when a numerical factor or a coefficient reaches a limiting value such as zero
In geometry class, Mr. Okonkwo drew three collinear points on the board and called the shape a degenerate triangle.
technical term: degenerate triangle
Asher drew a triangle on graph paper, but all three points sat on one line, so it had no area.
visualizable: collinear points on graph paper
For a class demo, Ravindra cut through a paper cone's tip to reveal a degenerate conic of two lines.
On the whiteboard, the teacher shrank the rectangle until its height reached zero, showing the class its degenerate line form.
- limiting case
a case at the boundary of a set of possibilities, not necessarily simpler
- special case
broader; any case that differs from the general one, not only simpler
- general case
the typical or standard form
文法句型
degenerate + [mathematical object]
用法筆記
This sense is only used in technical mathematics. It describes a special case that is simpler than the general type — for example, a point considered as a circle of radius zero.
3. in biology, describing a structure or body part that has become less developed o
in biology, describing a structure or body part that has become less developed or has lost a feature compared with its ancestral form, because that feature is no longer needed for survival
Some cave fish have degenerate eyes because they no longer need to see.
biological context: degenerate + [body part]
Inês studied the parasite's degenerate digestive system in her biology class.
Over millions of years, the species developed degenerate wings that cannot fly.
Hyun examined the degenerate organs of animals living in dark caves.
- developed
fully formed and functional
- specialized
having evolved complex features for a specific function
文法句型
degenerate + [body part/organ]
用法筆記
Mainly used in biology textbooks and academic writing about evolution. Common examples include degenerate eyes in cave-dwelling animals and degenerate limbs in parasitic species.
degenerate — noun
1. a person whose moral standards are very low, and who behaves in ways that most p
a person whose moral standards are very low, and who behaves in ways that most people find shocking or unacceptable
The police arrested a group of degenerates who had vandalized the park.
plural: degenerates
Caleb's neighbors called him a degenerate because of his wild parties and bad behaviour.
used as a strong insult
The Daily Chronicle described the convicted burglar as a dangerous degenerate who cared about nobody but himself.
In the novel, the main villain is a wealthy degenerate who treats people badly.
- saint
a very good, kind, and moral person
- role model
someone whose behaviour is admired and copied
用法筆記
A very strong and insulting word. It expresses harsh disapproval of someone's moral character. Avoid using it casually — it carries serious negative weight.