degenerate

1 of 3

adjective

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-rət 

-ˈje-nə-,

dē-

1

a

: having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state

the last degenerate member of a noble family

—W. E. Swinton

b

: having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type

… fruit so degenerate that the insects weren't even interested …

—Tamar Perla

especially : having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state

a degenerate schemer

a despairing and degenerate world had sunk into servitude beneath him

—W. L. Sullivan

c

: degraded sense 2

the functionally degenerate wings of the species

2

mathematics : being simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case

a degenerate hyperbola

3

physics and astronomy : characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density

degenerate matter

also : consisting of degenerate matter

a degenerate star

4

physics and chemistry : having two or more states or subdivisions especially of the same energy or frequency

degenerate energy level

degenerate oscillation

5

genetics : having more than one codon representing an amino acid

also : being such a codon

degenerately adverb

degenerateness noun

degenerate

2 of 3

verb

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt 

dē-

degenerated; degenerating; degenerates

intransitive verb

1

: to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition : deteriorate

her fixed mysterious smile degenerated into a fatuous stare

—J. C. Powys

2

: to sink into a low intellectual or moral state

The debate degenerated into a shouting match.

At the same time, discotheques degenerated into seedier venues … —shifty, often Mob-run last-martini stops for business commuters …

—Peter Braunstein

3

: to decline in quality

the poetry gradually degenerates into jingles

… the sitcom has degenerated into a sparring ring of personal insult

—James Wolcott

4

biology : to decline from a condition or from the standards of a species, race, or breed

5

biology : to evolve or develop into a less autonomous (see autonomous sense 2a) or less functionally active form

degenerated into dependent parasites

transitive verb

: to cause to degenerate

degenerate

3 of 3

noun

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-rət 

-ˈje-nə-,

dē-

: one that is degenerate (see degenerate entry 1) : such as

a

: one degraded from the normal moral standard

social degenerates

b

: a sexual pervert

c

anthropology : one showing signs of reversion (see reversion sense 3a) to an earlier culture stage

Synonyms

Adjective

• weak
• decayed
• degraded
• decadent
• effete
• overripe
• weakened
• washed-up

Verb

• deteriorate
• descend
• worsen
• crumble
• decline

Noun

• pervert

Choose the Right Synonym for degenerate

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct.

vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Examples of degenerate in a Sentence

Adjective

He criticizes what he believes is a degenerate society.

a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers

Verb

over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers

Noun

a couple of degenerates on a crime spree

a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the quiet of the Sabbath morning when all the neighborhood was wrapped in slumber, some dastardly degenerate crept into the room, choked her to death, assaulted her criminally and left her bruised and bleeding body lying on the bed. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025

Like people, joints naturally degenerate over time, and arthritis is particularly common in older pets. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025

Verb

Once Gacy is caught, the media runs with the details — all those bodies crammed in that crawlspace, some of them buried in trenches Gacy made his employees dig out — and paints his victims as runaways or degenerates who put themselves in danger. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025

In the quiet of the Sabbath morning when all the neighborhood was wrapped in slumber, some dastardly degenerate crept into the room, choked her to death, assaulted her criminally and left her bruised and bleeding body lying on the bed. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025

Noun

Once Gacy is caught, the media runs with the details — all those bodies crammed in that crawlspace, some of them buried in trenches Gacy made his employees dig out — and paints his victims as runaways or degenerates who put themselves in danger. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025

Created by Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney, who also plays the character Mac), the Emmy-deserving series premiered 20 years ago on Aug. 4, 2005, introducing the world to a gang of morally bankrupt degenerates running the least successful bar in Philly, Paddy's Pub. —James Mercadante, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Verb, and Noun

Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind — more at kin

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1545, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

degenerate

1 of 3 adjective

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-(ə-)rət 

: having degenerated : debased, degraded

degenerately adverb

degenerate

2 of 3 verb

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt 

1

: to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition : deteriorate

the meeting degenerated into noisy chatter

2

: to undergo evolution toward an earlier or less highly organized biological form

degenerate

3 of 3 noun

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-(ə-)rət 

: a degenerate person

Medical Definition

degenerate

1 of 3 adjective

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-(ə-)rət 

1

a

: having declined (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state

especially : having deteriorated progressively (as in the process of evolution) especially through loss of structure and function

b

: having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state

2

: having more than one codon representing an amino acid

also : being such a codon

degenerate

2 of 3 intransitive verb

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt 

degenerated; degenerating

1

: to sink into a low intellectual or moral state

2

: to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition: as

a

: to gradually deteriorate so that normal function or structure is impaired or lost

the retina degenerated

b

: to decline from the standards of a species, race, or breed

3

: to evolve or develop into a less autonomous or less functionally active form

degenerated into dependent parasites

degenerate

3 of 3 noun

de·​gen·​er·​ate di-ˈjen-(ə-)rət 

: one that is degenerate: as

a

: one degraded from the normal moral standard

b

: a sexual pervert