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degenerates

[/dɪˈdʒenəreɪts/ (verb), /dɪˈdʒenərəts/ (noun)]
verb/nounN/A (verb); masculine plural (noun)pl: N/A (verb); degenerates (noun)
degenerações (verb); degenerados (noun)
1. Third person singular present tense: to decline in quality, character, or physical condition; to become worse
The situation degenerates into chaos.
A situação degenerasse em caos.
2. Plural noun: people of low moral or physical standards; people considered morally corrupt or depraved
He referred to them as degenerates.
Ele os referiu como degenerados.
3. Biology: to lose specialized function or structure; evolutionary decline
The organism degenerates without proper nutrients.
O organismo degenera sem nutrientes adequados.
NYC Slang
lowlifes, scumbags, degenerates (same term used colloquially)
Synonyms
declinesdeterioratesworsenscorruptsdepravities
Antonyms
improvesadvanceselevatesdevelopsprogresses

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
degenerados; degenera-se
Common usage in both formal and informal contexts
São Paulo
degenerados; piora
Often used with 'piora' as synonym for decline
Portugal
degenerados; degenera-se
Formal usage predominates

Related Idioms & Phrases

degenerates into violence (degenera em violência)
moral degenerates (degenerados morais)
the situation degenerates rapidly (a situação piora rapidamente)
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