Environmental Degradation Vocabulary

verb to have a severely detrimental effect on

adjective affected by something that causes harm or damage

• The blighted area of the city has been targeted for revitalization efforts.
• The blighted old building is an eyesore in the neighborhood.
• That blighted project is never going to get off the ground.
• Her blighted dreams of becoming a singer were shattered when she lost her voice.

noun an act of defiling or the state of being defiled

verb to make something unclean or impure

• The company was fined for defiling the environment by illegally dumping toxic waste.
• Please don't defile the park by littering everywhere.
• I can't believe they defiled that historic building with graffiti.
• His actions defiled the trust we had in him.

verb to steal, plunder, or rob of goods or valuables by force, especially in time of war; loot

• The invading army sought to despoil the city of its riches.
• The thieves planned to despoil the house while the owners were away.
• The vandals were caught trying to despoil the park.
• The scandal despoiled his reputation in the community.

noun the act of despoiling or the state of being despoiled; plunder; robbery; spoilation.

• The despoliation of the ancient ruins was a devastating blow to the preservation efforts.
• The despoliation of the park by vandals was a real shame.
• The despoliation of the beach was a total bummer.
• The despoliation of her reputation was like a stain that couldn't be washed away.

noun the action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired

• The earthquake caused widespread destruction to the city's infrastructure.
• The fire resulted in a lot of destruction to the building.
• That party last night was wild, there was so much destruction!
• His reckless behavior led to the destruction of his reputation.

noun the condition of being worsened or impaired

• The continuous exposure to harsh weather conditions led to the deterioration of the building's facade.
• Leaving your bike out in the rain will cause it to deteriorate quickly.
• If you keep skipping meals, your health will deteriorate.
• The lack of communication in their relationship caused a slow deterioration of their bond.

noun extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain

verb to cause worry or trouble

• The company offered counseling services for employees experiencing distress.
• I could see the distress in her eyes when she received the bad news.
• I'm in such distress over my upcoming exams.
• The distressed wood on the old barn gave it a rustic charm.

adjective describing something that is extremely dirty or unpleasant

• The bathroom was left in a filthy state after the party.
• I can't believe how filthy my room is right now.
• That movie was so filthy, I loved every minute of it.
• His mind was filled with filthy thoughts that he couldn't shake.

noun a person or group considered to be despicable or morally repugnant

• The criminal was described as the scum of the earth by the judge during sentencing.
• I can't believe that guy stole from a charity - he's the scum of the earth!
• That bully is the scum of the earth, always picking on others.
• In the world of fashion, some designers consider fast fashion retailers to be the scum of the earth.

verb Sucked is a past tense verb that describes the action of drawing in or draining completely.

adjective Dry is an adjective that describes something lacking moisture or wetness.

adverb Dry can also function as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or other adverb to indicate a lack of moisture.

• The land had been sucked dry of its nutrients due to years of intensive farming.
• I left my phone charging all night and now the battery is sucked dry.
• After that workout, I feel like I've been sucked dry.
• Her energy was sucked dry by the toxic relationship she was in.

noun a violent or noisy movement, typically involving hitting or shaking

verb to beat or hit repeatedly with force

• The farmer used a flail to thrash the wheat in the field.
• I saw the kids thrash around in the pool, having a great time.
• The band thrashed out their new song at the garage rehearsal.
• The storm thrashed against the windows, making it hard to sleep.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'underdeveloped' describes something that has not reached a desired level of development.

• The underdeveloped countries struggle with inadequate infrastructure and limited access to education.
• The underdeveloped areas don't have many fancy buildings or big shopping malls.
• The underdeveloped regions are pretty behind the times.
• His underdeveloped social skills made it difficult for him to make friends.

verb Wasting is a verb that refers to the act of using or expending something carelessly or without proper use or purpose.

• He was wasting precious time on unnecessary tasks.
• Stop wasting your energy on things that don't matter.
• Why are you wasting your time on that nonsense?
• She felt like she was wasting away in a dead-end job.

verb to burden or oppress with something heavy or difficult to bear

• The heavy workload began to weigh down on the employees.
• All these responsibilities are really weighing me down.
• I can't believe how much this bad news is weighing me down.
• The guilt of his actions continued to weigh down on his conscience.

verb to make or become worse; deteriorate

• Failure to address the issue promptly may worsen the situation.
• Ignoring the problem will only make it worse.
• If you keep procrastinating, things will just go downhill.
• His constant negativity has a way of darkening the mood and worsening the atmosphere.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

• The boiled frog syndrome is a metaphor used to describe how people can gradually become accustomed to negative situations or changes if they happen slowly over time.
• Have you heard of the boiled frog syndrome? It's like when you don't realize how bad a situation is because it happened gradually.
• The boiled frog syndrome is when you're like a frog in a pot of water that's slowly getting hotter, but you don't jump out until it's too late.
• Experiencing the boiled frog syndrome can be dangerous as it may prevent individuals from recognizing the need for immediate action in a slowly deteriorating situation.

noun a political and economic system that focuses on the extraction of natural resources for profit, often at the expense of the environment and local communities

• The government's policies on extractivism have sparked debate among environmentalists.
• Some people believe that extractivism is harmful to the planet.
• I heard that extractivism is a big no-no in the eco-friendly community.
• Extractivism is like taking the lifeblood out of the earth without giving anything back.

verb to clear of forests or trees

• The company plans to deforest the area in order to make room for a new housing development.
• They're going to deforest that whole area to build more houses.
• They're gonna clear-cut that place to build new stuff.
• His words seemed to deforest her confidence, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

noun an economic system characterized by free market capitalism operating at an extremely fast pace with little government regulation

• Turbocapitalism is characterized by rapid economic growth and intense competition among businesses.
• I heard that turbocapitalism is causing prices to skyrocket at the grocery store.
• Turbocapitalism is like a race to the top where only the strongest survive.
• In the world of turbocapitalism, it's like being thrown into a shark tank with no life jacket.