Degenerate vs. Hard — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 6, 2024
Degenerate refers to a decline in physical, moral, or cultural qualities, while hard relates to physical solidity, difficulty, or effort required.
Difference Between Degenerate and Hard
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Degenerate, as a term, primarily denotes a decline or deterioration in quality, often used in contexts related to physical health, moral standards, or genetic stability. It implies a move away from a previously superior or more desirable state. On the other hand, hard pertains to the physical hardness of materials, the level of difficulty encountered in tasks or situations, or the intensity of effort required to achieve something. Hard can describe tangible attributes, such as the hardness of a diamond, or abstract concepts, such as a hard problem.
In a physical context, degenerate can describe tissues or cells that have declined in function, while hard can refer to the robustness or resistance of a material. In a moral or cultural sense, degenerate depicts a fall from ethical or societal norms, whereas hard does not apply to moral decline but rather to the severity or firmness in decision-making or enforcing principles.
The application of degenerate often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a loss or failure to maintain a certain standard. In contrast, hard can have either a positive or negative connotation depending on the context—admired for resilience and strength, or criticized when referring to excessive difficulty or obstinacy.
Degeneration is a process or condition, suggesting a dynamic change over time towards a lesser state. Hardness, whether referring to material properties, difficulty levels, or effort, denotes a more static quality or state of being. For example, the degeneration of muscle tissue over time versus the hard surface of a rock.
Both terms, while contrasting, highlight different aspects of condition and challenge. Degenerate emphasizes a downward trajectory in quality or morality, and hard focuses on the inherent qualities of solidity, resistance, or the level of challenge presented by a task or situation.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Decline in quality or condition.
Physical solidity, difficulty, or effort.
Connotation
Generally negative, implying deterioration.
Varied, can be positive (resilience) or negative (difficulty).
Contexts
Physical health, morals, genetics.
Material properties, challenges, effort.
Temporal Aspect
Process-oriented, indicates change over time.
Can indicate a static state or an immediate challenge.
Usage
Used to describe decline or degeneration.
Describes physical properties, challenges, or the intensity of effort.
Compare with Definitions
Degenerate
To deteriorate genetically across generations.
Some species become degenerate due to inbreeding.
Hard
Characterized by great effort or endurance.
She worked hard to achieve her goals.
Degenerate
In biology, a cell or tissue that has declined in function.
Researchers study degenerate cells to understand disease progression.
Hard
Severe or strict in nature.
The teacher was known for her hard rules.
Degenerate
To decline in quality, especially from a former state of coherence or fitness.
The unused building began to degenerate into ruin.
Hard
Resilient or capable of withstanding harsh conditions.
The hardy plants survived the winter freeze.
Degenerate
Relating to or involving decline.
The conversation quickly degenerated into an argument.
Hard
Firm and solid to the touch; not easily penetrated.
The ground was hard after weeks without rain.
Degenerate
Exhibiting a loss of moral or cultural values.
The artist's work was criticized for depicting a degenerate society.
Hard
Difficult to do or understand; requiring much effort.
Solving the puzzle was a hard task.
Degenerate
Having declined, as in function or nature, from a former or original state
A degenerate form of an ancient folk art.
Hard
Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced
The slate broke on the hard floor
Rub the varnish down when it's hard
Degenerate
Morally corrupt or given to vice.
Hard
Done with a great deal of force or strength
A hard whack
Degenerate
(Physics) Relating to two or more quantum states that share the same quantum numbers
Degenerate energy levels.
Hard
Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort
Airship-flying was pretty hard work
She found it hard to believe that he could be involved
It's hard for drummers these days
Degenerate
(Physics) Characterized by great density and consisting of atoms stripped of electrons
Degenerate matter.
Hard
(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated
Hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive
Degenerate
(Medicine) Characterized by degeneration, as of tissue, a cell, or an organ.
Hard
Strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.
Degenerate
(Biology) Having lost one or more highly developed functions, characteristics, or structures through evolution
A degenerate life form.
Hard
(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult
Hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water
Degenerate
(Genetics) Relating to or being a gene that has multiple codons for the same amino acid.
Hard
(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.
Degenerate
A depraved or corrupt person.
Hard
(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).
Degenerate
To fall below a normal or desirable state, especially functionally or morally; deteriorate
Old water pipes that are degenerating with age.
A dispute that degenerated into a brawl.
Hard
With a great deal of effort
They work hard at school
Degenerate
To decline in quality
The quality of his writing degenerated as he continued to drink.
Hard
So as to be solid or firm
The mortar has set hard
Degenerate
To undergo degeneration.
Hard
To the fullest extent possible
Put the wheel hard over to starboard
Degenerate
(of qualities) Having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal, coherent, balanced and desirable to undesirable and typically abnormal; an immoral or corrupt person.
Hard
A road leading down across a foreshore.
Degenerate
(of a human or system) Having lost good or desirable qualities.
Hard
Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated; firm or solid
A hard material.
Degenerate
(of an encoding or function) Having multiple domain elements correspond to one element of the range.
The codons.
Hard
Well protected from an attack, as by aerial bombardment
Bunkers and other hard targets.
Degenerate
Having multiple different (linearly independent) eigenvectors.
Hard
Requiring great effort or endurance
A hard assignment.
Degenerate
(physics) Having the same quantum energy level.
Hard
Performed with or marked by great diligence or energy
A project that required years of hard work.
Degenerate
One who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature.
In the cult of degenerates, acts of decency, kindness and modesty could be seen as acts of apostasy.
Hard
Difficult to resolve, accomplish, or finish
That was a hard question.
Degenerate
(intransitive) To lose good or desirable qualities.
His condition continued to degenerate even after admission to hospital.
Hard
Difficult to understand or impart
Physics was the hardest of my courses. Thermodynamics is a hard course to teach.
Degenerate
(transitive) To cause to lose good or desirable qualities.
Hard
Proceeding or performing with force, vigor, or persistence; assiduous
A hard worker.
Degenerate
To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate.
When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety.
Hard
Intense in force or degree
A hard blow.
Degenerate
A person or thing that has fallen from a higher to a lower state, or reverted to an earlier type or stage of development or culture.
Hard
Inclement or severe
A long, hard winter.
Degenerate
Grow worse;
Her condition deteriorated
Conditions in the slums degenerated
The discussion devolved into a shouting match
Hard
Stern, strict, or demanding
A hard taskmaster.
Degenerate
Unrestrained by convention or morality;
Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society
Deplorably dissipated and degraded
Riotous living
Fast women
Hard
Lacking compassion or sympathy; callous
Became hard after years in prison.
Hard
Difficult to endure; causing hardship or suffering
A hard life.
Hard
Oppressive or unjust in nature or effect
Restrictions that were hard on welfare applicants.
Hard
Harsh or severe in effect or intention
I said some hard things that I regret.
Hard
Marked by stubborn refusal to compromise or yield; uncompromising
Drives a hard bargain.
Hard
Bitter or resentful
Hard feelings caused by the insult.
Hard
Showing disapproval, bitterness, or resentment
Gave me a hard look.
Hard
Causing damage or premature wear
Snow and ice are hard on a car's finish.
Hard
Bad; adverse
Hard luck.
Hard
Real and unassailable
Hard evidence.
Hard
Definite; firm
A hard commitment.
Hard
Free from illusion or sentimentality; practical or realistic
We need to take a hard look at the situation.
Hard
Using or based on data that are readily quantified or verified
The hard sciences.
Hard
Marked by sharp delineation or contrast
A hard line separating the two lists.
Hard
Lacking in shade; undiminished
The hard light of the midday sun.
Hard
Hardcore.
Hard
Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle more acute than other possible routes.
Hard
Metallic, as opposed to paper. Used of currency.
Hard
Backed by bullion rather than by credit. Used of currency.
Hard
High and stable. Used of prices.
Hard
Durable; lasting
Hard merchandise.
Hard
Written or printed rather than stored in electronic media
Sent the information by hard mail.
Hard
Erect; tumid. Used of a penis.
Hard
Having high alcoholic content; intoxicating
Hard liquor.
Hard
Rendered alcoholic by fermentation; fermented
Hard cider.
Hard
Containing dissolved salts that interfere with the lathering action of soap or other cleansing agents. Used of water.
Hard
(Linguistics) Velar, as in c in cake or g in log, as opposed to palatal or soft.
Hard
(Physics) Of relatively high energy; penetrating
Hard x-rays.
Hard
High in gluten content
Hard wheat.
Hard
(Chemistry) Resistant to biodegradation
A hard detergent.
Hard
Extremely or dangerously addictive. Used of certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.
Hard
With strenuous effort; intently
Worked hard all day.
Stared hard at the accused criminal.
Hard
With great force, vigor, or energy
Pressed hard on the lever.
Hard
In such a way as to cause great damage or hardship
Industrial cities hit hard by unemployment.
Hard
With great distress, grief, or bitterness
Took the divorce hard.
Hard
Firmly; securely
Held hard to the railing.
Hard
Toward or into a solid condition
Concrete that sets hard within a day.
Hard
Near in space or time; close
The factory stands hard by the railroad tracks.
Hard
(Nautical) Completely; fully
Hard alee.
Hard
(of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
Hard
Resistant to pressure.
This bread is so stale and hard, I can barely cut it.
Hard
(of drink or drugs) Strong.
Hard
(of a normally nonalcoholic drink) Containing alcohol.
Hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzer, hard soda
Hard
(of water) High in dissolved chemical salts, especially those of calcium.
Hard
Having the capability of being a permanent magnet by being a material with high magnetic coercivity (compare soft).
Hard
Having a high energy (high frequency; short wavelength).
Hard X-rays
Hard
Made up of parallel rays, producing clearly defined shadows.
Hard
(personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
Hard
Difficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
A hard problem;
A hard question;
A hard topic
Hard
Demanding a lot of effort to endure.
A hard life
Hard
Severe, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
A hard master;
A hard heart;
Hard words;
A hard character
The senator asked the party chief to put the hard word on his potential rivals.
Hard
(dated) Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
Hard
(military) Hardened; having unusually strong defences.
A hard site
Hard
(slang) Tough and muscular.
He thinks he's well hard.
Hard
Unquestionable, unequivocal.
Hard evidence;
A hard requirement
Hard
(of a road intersection) Having a comparatively larger or a ninety-degree angle.
At the intersection, there are two roads going to the left. Take the hard left.
Hard
(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.
Hard
Fortis.
Hard
Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".
Hard
Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.
Hard
(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.
Hard
(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.
Hard
Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.
Hard
Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.
Hard
(uncomparable)
Hard
In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive
Hard
Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset
Hard
(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left
Hard
Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.
Hard
(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.
Hard
(manner) With much force or effort.
He hit the puck hard up the ice.
They worked hard all week.
At the intersection, bear hard left.
The recession hit them especially hard.
Think hard about your choices.
The couple were fucking each other hard.
Hard
(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.
Hard
(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.
Hard
(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.
Hard
Near, close.
Hard
A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.
Hard
A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.
Hard
Crack cocaine.
Hard
Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.
Hard
Not easily penetrated, cut, or separated into parts; not yielding to pressure; firm; solid; compact; - applied to material bodies, and opposed to soft; as, hard wood; hard flesh; a hard apple.
Hard
Difficult, mentally or judicially; not easily apprehended, decided, or resolved; as a hard problem.
The hard causes they brought unto Moses.
In which are some things hard to be understood.
Hard
Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.
Hard
Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
A power which will be always too hard for them.
Hard
Difficult to bear or endure; not easy to put up with or consent to; hence, severe; rigorous; oppressive; distressing; unjust; grasping; as, a hard lot; hard times; hard fare; a hard winter; hard conditions or terms.
I never could drive a hard bargain.
Hard
Difficult to please or influence; stern; unyielding; obdurate; unsympathetic; unfeeling; cruel; as, a hard master; a hard heart; hard words; a hard character.
Hard
Not easy or agreeable to the taste; harsh; stiff; rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style.
Figures harder than even the marble itself.
Hard
Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.
Hard
Abrupt or explosive in utterance; not aspirated, sibilated, or pronounced with a gradual change of the organs from one position to another; - said of certain consonants, as c in came, and g in go, as distinguished from the same letters in center, general, etc.
Hard
Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.
Hard
Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.
Hard
With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly.
And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince.
My fatherIs hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.
Hard
With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.
Hard
Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.
Hard
So as to raise difficulties.
Hard
With tension or strain of the powers; violently; with force; tempestuously; vehemently; vigorously; energetically; as, to press, to blow, to rain hard; hence, rapidly; nimbly; as, to run hard.
Hard
Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Hard
To harden; to make hard.
Hard
A ford or passage across a river or swamp.
Hard
Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure;
A difficult task
Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
Difficult times
A difficult child
Found himself in a difficult situation
Why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?
Hard
Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb
Hard
Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock
Hard
Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow
Hard
Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace
Hard
Of speech sounds
Hard
Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker
Hard
Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider
Hard
Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor
Hard
Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break
Hard
Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before
Hard
With effort or force or vigor;
The team played hard
Worked hard all day
Pressed hard on the lever
Hit the ball hard
Slammed the door hard
Hard
With firmness;
Held hard to the railing
Hard
Earnestly or intently;
Thought hard about it
Stared hard at the accused
Hard
Causing great damage or hardship;
Industries hit hard by the depression
She was severely affected by the bank's failure
Hard
Slowly and with difficulty;
Prejudices die hard
Hard
Indulging excessively;
He drank heavily
Hard
Into a solid condition;
Concrete that sets hard within a few hours
Hard
Very near or close in space or time;
It stands hard by the railroad tracks
They were hard on his heels
A strike followed hard upon the plant's opening
Hard
With pain or distress or bitterness;
He took the rejection very hard
Hard
To the full extent possible; all the way;
Hard alee
The ship went hard astern
Swung the wheel hard left
Common Curiosities
Is 'hard' always negative?
No, 'hard' can be positive when referring to resilience and determination, although it can also describe challenging or severe situations.
What contexts can 'hard' be applied to?
'Hard' can refer to the physical toughness of objects, the level of difficulty in tasks or challenges, or the amount of effort required to achieve something.
How does one combat degeneration?
Combating degeneration can involve interventions like medical treatment, lifestyle changes, or societal reforms, depending on the context.
Can a person be described as degenerate?
Yes, in a moral or health context, implying a decline from a better moral standing or physical condition.
What makes a problem 'hard'?
A problem is considered 'hard' if it requires a lot of effort to solve, due to complexity, high requirements for skill or knowledge, or physical difficulty.
Is degeneration reversible?
Depending on the context, some forms of degeneration, especially physical or health-related, may be partially reversible with intervention, while others might be permanent.
Can materials other than those physically hard be 'hard' in other senses?
Yes, 'hard' can also describe difficult situations or challenges, not just physically tough materials.
What are examples of hard decisions?
Hard decisions often involve tough choices that have significant consequences, such as career changes or ethical dilemmas.
What does it mean for something to be degenerate?
It means to experience a decline in physical, moral, or cultural quality, moving away from a preferable state.
How does degeneration affect genetics?
Genetic degeneration refers to the process by which genetic defects or undesirable traits become prevalent in a population, leading to a decline in health or viability.
What is the relationship between degeneration and age?
Degeneration is often associated with aging, as many physical and cognitive functions tend to decline over time.
How is 'hard' used to describe personality?
In personality, 'hard' can describe someone who is resilient, strict, or severe in their decisions and actions.
Can a society become degenerate?
Yes, a society can be described as degenerate if it's perceived to have declined in moral standards, cultural richness, or social cohesion.
Is 'hard work' always beneficial?
While hard work is generally seen as positive, it's most beneficial when it's directed towards meaningful goals and balanced with rest and recovery.
How do artists depict degeneration?
Artists might depict degeneration through themes or imagery that showcase decline, chaos, or loss, reflecting societal or personal concerns.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
