Synonyms of degenerate

degenerate 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈjen-rət 

1

as in weak

having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weak
• decayed
• degraded
• decadent
• effete
• overripe
• weakened
• washed-up
• feeble
• failing
• dying
• decaying
• soft
• dissolute
• declining
• immoral
• precious
• wasted
• depraved
• debilitated
• enfeebled
• debased
• debauched
• waning
• frail
• languid
• wimpy
• demoralized
• dissipated
• enervated
• overrefined
• enervate
• sapped

2

as in corrupt

having or showing lowered moral character or standards

a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• corrupt
• degraded
• sick
• depraved
• decadent
• dissolute
• perverted
• crooked
• loose
• debased
• debauched
• warped
• demoralized
• unclean
• libertine
• vicious
• unwholesome
• perverse
• spoiled
• dissipated
• dishonest
• rakish
• reprobate
• immoral
• evil
• wicked
• bad
• unprincipled
• unscrupulous
• rakehell
• jackleg
• contaminated
• bent
• unethical
• cutthroat
• sinful
• tainted
• iniquitous
• nefarious
• miscreant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pure
• uncorrupted
• incorruptible
• uncorrupt
• ethical
• moral
• honest
• good
• virtuous
• principled
• righteous

degenerate

2 of 3

noun

di-ˈjen-rət 

as in pervert

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard

a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pervert
• rake
• villain
• libertine
• deviate
• playboy
• backslider
• debauchee
• debaucher
• derelict
• profligate
• perv
• decadent
• rakehell
• rip
• bankrupt
• reprobate
• delinquent
• heel
• scoundrel
• rogue
• blackguard
• knave
• sicko
• cad
• incorrigible
• lecher
• miscreant
• satyr
• rascal
• sickie
• playgirl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• saint

degenerate

3 of 3

verb

di-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt 

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorate
• descend
• crumble
• worsen
• decline
• decay
• rot
• devolve
• diminish
• atrophy
• retrograde
• regress
• sink
• ebb
• weaken
• disintegrate
• corrupt
• go to seed
• degrade
• fall
• sag
• decompose
• go to pot
• putrefy
• recede
• reduce
• dwindle
• slip
• downsize
• wane
• sour
• dilapidate
• undermine
• abate
• spoil
• debilitate
• languish
• run down
• waste (away)
• break down
• lessen
• fail
• droop
• molder
• wilt
• lower
• lag
• de-escalate
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improve
• ameliorate
• better
• upgrade
• enhance
• enrich
• intensify
• meliorate
• strengthen
• develop
• proceed
• heighten
• fortify
• progress
• advance
• march

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective degenerate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of degenerate are corrupt, iniquitous, nefarious, vicious, and villainous. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When would corrupt be a good substitute for degenerate?

While the synonyms corrupt and degenerate are close in meaning, corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

When is iniquitous a more appropriate choice than degenerate?

The synonyms iniquitous and degenerate are sometimes interchangeable, but iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

Where would nefarious be a reasonable alternative to degenerate?

The words nefarious and degenerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

In what contexts can vicious take the place of degenerate?

In some situations, the words vicious and degenerate are roughly equivalent. However, vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

When could villainous be used to replace degenerate?

The meanings of villainous and degenerate largely overlap; however, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of degenerate

Adjective

There was alarm at the prospect of hundreds of thousands of soldiers returning to the U.S. with such degenerate experience under their belts, and presumably spreading these habits among hitherto innocent American wives. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Ammon did appear tempted to talk the walk in Portland, to become the Mormon cowboy philosopher king wandering a degenerate realm of an ailing Republic, but by now time was in extremely short supply. —Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

Those who hold advanced degrees in mathematics and analytics, or your favorite degenerate gambler, know any piece of datum is only reliant on the trove of data that occurred previously. —Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 7 May 2025

This 24-hour dive near Uptown is for true degenerates looking to extend the party to unholy hours. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025

Verb

When leaders of any kind stop appealing to the common advantage and instead become motivated by self-interest, their government degenerates: Monarchy, for example, becomes tyranny, without so much as a handshake. —Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025

In the Pacific, meteorologists are watching to see how much rain the degenerating Tropical Storm Mario could carry into the San Diego region. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025