Definitions
- Describing something that has rotted or decomposed over time. - Referring to the process of organic matter breaking down and losing its original form. - Talking about something that has deteriorated or fallen into disrepair due to neglect or lack of maintenance.
- Referring to a decline in quality, status, or value. - Describing a situation where someone or something has been lowered in rank or position. - Talking about a person or thing that has lost respect or dignity due to immoral or unethical behavior.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a negative change from a previous state.
- 2Both words suggest a loss of value or quality.
- 3Both words can be used to describe physical objects or abstract concepts.
- 4Both words have negative connotations.
What is the difference?
- 1Cause: Decayed implies a natural process of deterioration, while degraded suggests a deliberate or unintentional act of lowering something.
- 2Type of change: Decayed refers to physical changes, while degraded can refer to physical or abstract changes.
- 3Degree of change: Decayed suggests a complete breakdown or loss of original form, while degraded suggests a partial loss or decline in quality.
- 4Timeframe: Decayed implies a gradual process over time, while degraded can happen suddenly or over a longer period.
- 5Usage: Decayed is more commonly used to describe physical objects, while degraded is more commonly used to describe abstract concepts or people.
Remember this!
Decayed and degraded are synonyms that both describe a negative change from a previous state. However, decayed implies a natural process of deterioration, often referring to physical objects, while degraded suggests a deliberate or unintentional act of lowering something, often referring to abstract concepts or people.
