Master confusing words with ease
Degenerate vs. Deteriorate
Degenerate
/dɪˈdʒenərət/Examples:
The debate degenerated into a shouting match.Their health degenerated after years of poor diet.The city's infrastructure is degenerating rapidly.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Deteriorate
/dɪˈtɪəriəreɪt/Examples:
The city's infrastructure began to deteriorate rapidly.His health continued to deteriorate despite treatments.Relations between the two countries have deteriorated.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- "Degenerate" often implies a decline in quality or moral values, while "deteriorate" refers to physical worsening or decay.
- Think of "degenerate" as related to degeneration, which is more about behavior or standards going down.
- "Deteriorate" contains a hint of "terr" which is related to the earth, hinting at physical material change.
- "Degenerate" tends to be used in social, cultural, or moral contexts.
- If something is falling apart, like a building, think "deteriorate"; if it's about behavior, think "degenerate".
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