adjective / noun / verb

degenerate

dih-JEN-uh-rayt/dɪˈdʒenəreɪt/

To deteriorate from a sounder or more organized state.

The red garden chair degenerates over time, becoming increasingly worn.

Same red garden chair in three increasingly deteriorated conditions.

Etymology

deLatinaway from

+generLatinbirth, descent

+ateLatinparticipial ending

The roots express departure from one's descent: becoming inferior to one's ancestors or unlike one's kind. This became a broader way to describe anything passing into a worse condition.

In context

Free Documentary - Nature13:53

… courtships quickly degenerate into free-for-alls and they just keep coming

Yosemite - America's Most Spectacular National Park | Free Documentary Nature

More examples

Their discussion quickly degenerated into a shouting match.
Without regular maintenance, the system can degenerate into chaos.
Cartilage in the knee may degenerate with age.

Forms

degenerate · degenerates · degenerated · degenerating

degeneration noun — Deterioration in quality, condition, or organization.

degenerative adjective — Involving progressive deterioration in condition or function.

Similar words

deteriorate: Emphasizes worsening condition rather than loss of order.
decline: Suggests a gradual decrease in quality, strength, or effectiveness.