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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of degeneracy
Crucially, white dwarfs support themselves against collapse through something called electron degeneracy pressure, in which a huge sea of free-floating electrons resists collapse because, according to quantum mechanics, electrons can never share the same state.
—
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2025
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
Trump has been tied to Epstein, and though there is no evidence exposing the president’s participation in Epstein’s acts of degeneracy, the question remains on the minds of many Americans — Was Trump complicit?
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2025
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
Trump has been tied to Epstein, and though there is no evidence exposing the president’s participation in Epstein’s acts of degeneracy, the question remains on the minds of many Americans — Was Trump complicit?
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneracy
Noun
-
The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The causes of displacement are largely attributed to political conflict, corruption, violence and economic hardship, including widespread poverty.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Scientists at the University of South Alabama observed that mice on a high-salt diet experienced rapid deterioration in their blood vessel function.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
One is instantaneous, the brain just flips into unrecognizable thoughts, and the other is a deterioration over time.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This year’s inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lean far too male and over 60, with the class consisting of only six women spread among all of the categories — a disappointing decline after some notable changes following the departure of chairman Jann Wenner.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Relegation would trigger massive declines in matchday, broadcast and commercial revenue.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 1943, the United States government administered a questionnaire to people of Japanese descent who had been confined to wartime concentration camps in California, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Arkansas.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
All of these Les Lalanne pieces belong to the collection of Jean and Terry de Gunzburg — Jean is a Canadian of French aristocratic descent and a Bronfman of the Seagram’s empire; Terry was the creative director of YSL beauty.—
David Lê,
Curbed,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
By putting religious and profane art together—a picture of Christ on one wall and Apollo on another, both equalized in their prettiness—Raphael triggered centuries of decadence.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Drive up the coast and enjoy this outpost of the Getty Museum, where the views of the Pacific are showstopping, and the Italian villa is so perfectly representative of California decadence.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degeneracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneracy. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
