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
Love ’em or hate ’em, these House troublemakers bucked their party leadership, stared down their president and made possible Tuesday’s vote to compel the administration to come clean about the web of degeneracy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.
—
Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 20 Nov. 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
Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 20 Nov. 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
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Its habitat is being affected by climate change and fires started by farmers clearing land, which are contributing to ecosystem degradation in the region.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
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Its habitat is being affected by climate change and fires started by farmers clearing land, both of which are contributing to ecosystem degradation in the region.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Forty-seven years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally end.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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Though Guelleh has presided over economic growth during his time as president, economic benefits have not fully trickled down, and much of the population remains mired in poverty; this economic inequality is due in part to corruption and patronage.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Prosecutors said the owners were given multiple warnings about the roof's deterioration and were even urged to cancel the concert that was going on at the time of the collapse.—
Jennifer Bisram,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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In addition, physical deterioration has become a concern over time.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
31 Mar. 2026
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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.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at GasBuddy, said prices at the pump could start dropping as soon as this weekend, although the decline could initially amount to only a few cents per gallon.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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While not endangered, American woodcocks have experienced a population decline in recent decades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Padillas’ descent into a DCF black hole isn’t a rare occurrence in Miami.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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The film, shot in Ben Hania’s native Tunisia, stars Palestinian actors Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, and Clara Khoury, and Saja Kilani who is Jordanian Canadian, of Palestinian descent.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Returning to the decadence of Jay Gatsby's parties has introduced new aspects of the show to Noblezada.—
Carey Purcell,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
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Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona Desert decadence looks different at Royal Palms Resort and Spa.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degeneracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneracy. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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