1
as in weak
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers
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2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degenerate
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Mallory Locklear,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Ike Barinholtz may play degenerates well, but, off screen, the writer, comedian and star is something of a trivia savant.
—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
Floaters are most common in people over age 50 because that’s when the vitreous gel typically begins to degenerate, a process called vitreous syneresis, Starr said.
—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Adjective
German Expressionism and Surrealism, deemed degenerate by Nazis and Soviets alike, show up in stylized figuration, spatial distortion, and a dreamlike atmosphere.
—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
In all vertebrates, the thymus degenerates very rapidly with age.
—
Mallory Locklear,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Ike Barinholtz may play degenerates well, but, off screen, the writer, comedian and star is something of a trivia savant.
—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Murderous encounters dating to the Risdon Cove settlement eventually degenerated into the Black War (1804–30), a period of great physical conflict between the Aboriginal population and European settlers.
—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
Floaters are most common in people over age 50 because that’s when the vitreous gel typically begins to degenerate, a process called vitreous syneresis, Starr said.
—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerate
Adjective
-
Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
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In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Adjective
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In reality, leaders on both sides are corrupt and always on the edge of disaster.
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My career actually focuses on bonding and preventing taxpayers from being on the hook for the failures of bankrupt and corrupt companies.
Noun
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Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.
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You are being spied on by a pervert.
Verb
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England reached stumps on 103-4 after 15 overs, still needing 270 runs in its seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a deteriorating pitch and heading for a first defeat in a home series of three or more tests since 2012.
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Intensifying wildfires across eastern Utah and western Colorado are sending thick smoke into portions of the state, creating hazy skies and deteriorating air quality for many mountain and western Colorado communities.
Adjective
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Discard any that look dead or decayed.
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The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
Adjective
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Faster delivery with degraded quality just accelerates technical debt and erodes user trust.
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Her days are spent growing coral fragments in nurseries, cleaning restoration structures, managing coral predators and transplanting coral onto degraded reefs.
Verb
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Another witness said Lopez stood up twice as the aircraft began descending into Las Vegas, went to the restroom, then returned to his seat before suddenly launching the attack.
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Around 1,000 attendees are expected to descend on Madison Square Garden over the next two days to celebrate the union of the music superstar and Super Bowl champion.
Adjective
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The casual lunch menu has dishes like crab cakes and roast beef sandwiches, while the Alexander Dobbin dinner menu centers on more decadent eats like lamb chops, veal, and standing beef rib roast.
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The bakery and its decadent creations — rotating flavors like Maple Bacon Glazed, Chocolate Salted Caramel Old-Fashioned, Lime Mascarpone Bismark and the CroDough (croissant doughnut) — made their debut recently at the San Jose center’s Park Valencia.
Cite this Entry
“Degenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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