degenerate

/dɪˈdʒenəreɪt/

Syllables de·gen·er·ate

Stress de-GEN-er-ate

Phonics Breakdown

de

/dɪ/

short i

gen

/dʒen/

soft g

er

/ər/

schwa

ate

/eɪt/

long a_e

Meaning

to become worse or decline in quality, morals, or condition

Sound Reference

💡

de=/dɪ/(divide) + gen=/dʒen/(general) + er=/ər/(teacher) + ate=/eɪt/(late)

Example

Without care, the system may degenerate over time.