1
as in degradation
a change to a lower state or level
the sad degeneracy of the old neighborhood into a slum
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corruption
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the degeneracy of the family into a gang of petty thieves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degeneracy
One night, Earnshaw goes out for his evening’s gambling and degeneracy and returns the next morning with a new resident for the household.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
This uncertainty, called mass–distance degeneracy, meant that earlier detections could not rule out heavier objects such as brown dwarfs.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Jan. 2026
Reformers seized on this as both a public-health and a moral crisis; for many Progressives, dirt itself was a sign of degeneracy.
—
Jacob Beckert,
The Atlantic,
13 Nov. 2025
Why subject your kids to degeneracy and violence?
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
This uncertainty, called mass–distance degeneracy, meant that earlier detections could not rule out heavier objects such as brown dwarfs.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Jan. 2026
Reformers seized on this as both a public-health and a moral crisis; for many Progressives, dirt itself was a sign of degeneracy.
—
Jacob Beckert,
The Atlantic,
13 Nov. 2025
Why subject your kids to degeneracy and violence?
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneracy
Noun
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What bothers me is the foot-dragging, the spinning in circles, the slow degradation of these characters into annoying stereotypes.
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Over time, this can increase electrical resistance, generate excess heat, and accelerate battery degradation.
Noun
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The council made similar appointments when Patrick Cannon stepped down in 2014 after he was indicted on public corruption charges and in 2013 when Anthony Foxx left the city to become the federal secretary of transportation.
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When self-interest matures into corruption, the machine begins to strain.
Noun
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration.
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Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Noun
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.
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Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.
Noun
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That window is shorter than most executives assume, as mental and physical declines often begin earlier than midlife, while the leader still feels fully capable and engaged.
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The decline in energy prices is easing inflation concerns, which has helped push the 10-year Treasury yield down roughly 9 basis points.
Noun
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SpaceX continued its sharp descent back to Earth.
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Look no further than the ninth inning of Sunday’s latest descent to the bottom.
Noun
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Just like buttermilk in biscuits, cottage cheese can lend some extra tang and decadence to many comfort foods like lasagnas and casseroles.
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Arguably the defining crime film of a decade brimming with decadence, Scarface is excessive in every way, which only enhances its appeal.
Cite this Entry
“Degeneracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneracy. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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