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senescent

/sɪˈnɛsənt/
IPA guide

Something senescent is growing old or is elderly. Senescent things are deteriorating.

Senescent and senile have something in common — the Latin root senex which means "old.” A baby or even a teenager would not be described as senescent because they're youthful and full of life. A nursing home is full of people who could be described as senescent; they’re old. "The Who" was going to sing “hope I die before I get senescent,” but it just didn’t have the same ring to it.

Definitions of senescent
  1. adjective
    growing old
    synonyms: ageing, aging
    old
    (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
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