degeneration
/dɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən ˌdē-/ (ame, mw)
degeneration — noun
1. the process of gradually becoming worse in quality, condition, or strength over
the process of gradually becoming worse in quality, condition, or strength over time
Doctors warned about the degeneration of the patient's eyesight after the severe infection.
degeneration of [body function / ability]
Elena noticed a gradual degeneration in the quality of the tap water after the factory opened nearby.
degeneration in [quality / condition]
Amara inspected the old railway bridge and noted clear signs of degeneration in its iron supports.
Urban planners expressed concern over the slow degeneration of public parks in the northern districts.
After years without maintenance, the hospital building showed obvious degeneration of its plumbing and wiring.
- deterioration
more general term for anything getting worse; less focused on a decline from a previous better state
- decline
broader and more common; can refer to a decrease in quantity, quality, or importance
- decay
often implies rotting or breaking down physically, with a stronger negative connotation
- improvement
the process of becoming better
- development
growth or progress toward a better state
文法句型
degeneration + of + noun
degeneration + in + noun
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' to name the thing that is declining. Common modifiers include 'gradual', 'steady', 'slow', and 'progressive'.
常見錯誤
2. a gradual loss of moral values, intellectual ability, or artistic quality, viewe
a gradual loss of moral values, intellectual ability, or artistic quality, viewed as a negative change from a previous better state
Film critic Diego viewed the declining quality of movies as evidence of the degeneration of the film industry.
degeneration of [industry] — formal register
Historian Arjun argued that the Roman Empire collapsed partly because of internal moral degeneration among its leaders.
moral degeneration
Some community leaders warned about the artistic degeneration caused by chasing only commercial success in galleries.
The teacher's long essay traced the slow intellectual degeneration of a once-respected scholarly journal over fifty years.
- corruption
stronger moral focus; often implies dishonesty or unethical behaviour, not just gradual decline
- decline
broader and less formal; can be used for any downward trend without the moral judgement
- decadence
implies self-indulgent pleasure-seeking and loss of discipline, especially in artistic or cultural contexts
- improvement
general antonym for any decline
- refinement
specifically the opposite of moral or cultural decline; the process of becoming more polished or civilised
文法句型
moral degeneration
cultural degeneration
degeneration of + standards / values / taste
用法筆記
Commonly paired with a qualifying adjective such as 'moral', 'cultural', 'artistic', or 'intellectual' to specify the domain of decline. Rarely used without a qualifier.
常見錯誤
3. a medical process in which a tissue, organ, or body part gradually breaks down a
a medical process in which a tissue, organ, or body part gradually breaks down and loses its ability to function normally
The MRI scan showed clear degeneration of the cartilage in both of Haruki's knees.
degeneration of [body part] — medical usage
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people over sixty.
medical compound noun: macular degeneration
Dr. Ananya told her patient that regular exercise may slow the degeneration of brain cells as people age.
The surgeon explained that degeneration of the spinal discs was causing Kwame's chronic lower back pain.
Lukas was diagnosed with early degeneration of the liver tissue after drinking heavily for many years.
- deterioration
more general medical term; less specific about progressive, irreversible loss of function
- atrophy
specifically the wasting away or shrinkage of tissue, often from disuse rather than disease
- necrosis
the death of cells or tissue, typically from injury or disease; more severe and sudden than degeneration
- regeneration
the regrowth or repair of tissue or cells
- healing
the process of recovering from injury or disease
文法句型
degeneration + of + body part / tissue / organ
tissue degeneration
cell degeneration
用法筆記
A technical term in medicine and biology. Frequently specifies the affected tissue or organ: cartilage degeneration, nerve degeneration, retinal degeneration, liver degeneration.