3

There is a word which means "decrease in performance", usually used in negative context. Here are some examples:

"The city's power station usually gives a steady voltage of 220V, but at 9PM, when the TV series ends and everyone turns on a teapot, the voltage may ... even to 215V".

"This algorithm solves a random instance of a problem in several seconds, but there are some specific instances on which its running time ... up to a minute".

"During the rush-hour the capacity of major streets ... significantly".

For Russian speakers: the exact Russian analog is "проседать", but I can't find a desired translation anywhere.

UPD: I've got one exact word on a tip of my tongue. Here are some words which may fit the gaps but are not what I need: sink, drop, sag, plummet, decrease.

Probably "degrade" is the best match I could think of.

Improve this question
4
  • @Max I tried Google translate but it does not provide the word I'm looking for, none word of this three matches. I'll try to give more examples.
    – Ivan Smirnov
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 2:31
  • Can you explain why the related words don't fit? This will help us discover the nuance. Also, consider "decline" and "depreciate".
    – Em.
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 2:50
  • @Max They do fit, though these words have broader usage. The one I'm talking about is precisely about performance, or throughput. Maybe it is even some kind of a technical term.
    – Ivan Smirnov
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 2:55
  • degrade is a verb and usually related to quality of something is getting worse (more like something damaged), but the quality does not necessary mean algorithm slowdown or decreasing capacity of something. More appropriate words to use are reduction or drop (e.g. frame-per-second drop in video player) as mentioned in the answers below.
    – T.H.
    Commented Feb 10, 2023 at 4:51

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
3

Drop

Make or become lower, weaker, or less.

(Oxford)

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Unfortunately, no. It is not the one I have on a tip of my tongue; I'll update the answer and include several words which may fit but are not words I'm searching for. Anyway, my upvote for a technically correct answer!
    – Ivan Smirnov
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 2:44
3

You should go for a "decline/reduction" in performance. These words are more common and idiomatic.

Improve this answer
-1

An appropriate word might be 'poorer'

Collins says:

poorer (adj.) If you describe an amount, rate, or number as poor, you mean that it is less than expected or less than is considered reasonable.

You could use this word in your example sentences like this:

There are some specific instances on which its running time may be poorer by up to a minute".

During rush hour, the capacity of major streets is significantly poorer.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .