deteriorate
- v. (使)恶化
- Definition
- v. to become worse, or to make something worse
- Example
- Her health began to deteriorate after she stopped sleeping well.
- 她停止好好睡觉后，健康状况开始恶化。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: to become worse over time (verb).
比较义项：（事物）变得更差、恶化（动词）。
- deteriorate 本词
The everyday, neutral word for something gradually getting worse; used broadly for health, weather, relationships or conditions, without implying any specific end state.
日常、中性的词，指某事物逐渐变差；广泛用于健康、天气、关系或状况的逐步恶化，不暗示任何特定的最终状态。
Her eyesight began to deteriorate rapidly after her sixtieth birthday.
她六十岁生日过后，视力开始迅速恶化。
- degenerate
Suggests a decline into a specific worse or degraded state, often morally or structurally, and commonly followed by 'into'; more formal and slightly literary in tone.
指衰退到某种更差或退化的具体状态，常带有道德或结构上的含义，常与「into」搭配；语气更正式、略带书面色彩。
The debate degenerated into a shouting match within minutes.
这场辩论几分钟内就演变成了互相叫嚷。
Deteriorate and degenerate both mean to become worse, but they differ. Deteriorate is the everyday, neutral word for something gradually worsening, used broadly for health, weather, or relationships. Degenerate suggests decline into a specific, worse state, commonly followed by 'into'; it is formal and literary.
这两个词都表示情况逐渐变差，但deteriorate更常用、语气中性，可指健康、天气、关系等逐步恶化；degenerate语气更正式，强调退化到某种更差或混乱的具体状态，常与「into」连用，也可带道德贬义。