Thesaurus

degenerate

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of degenerate

1 having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit

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

Synonyms of degenerate

decadent, decayed, effete, overripe, washed-up

Words Related to degenerate

overrefined, precious

decaying, declining, dying, failing, waning

debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, frail, languid, sapped, soft, wasted, weak, weakened, wimpy

dissolute, immoral

debased, debauched, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute

Antonyms of degenerate

2 having or showing lowered moral character or standards

a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers

Synonyms of degenerate

corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell (or rakehelly), rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped

Words Related to degenerate

bent [chiefly British], crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

contaminated, spoiled, tainted

bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked

Near Antonyms of degenerate

ethical, honest, principled

good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Antonyms of degenerate

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted

Synonym Discussion of degenerate

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct. vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

- a vicious gangster

villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

- a villainous assault

iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

- an iniquitous system of taxation

nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

- the nefarious rackets of organized crime

corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

- city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

- a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

degenerate

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of degenerate

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard

a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification

Synonyms of degenerate

backslider, debauchee, debaucher, decadent, deviate, libertine, perv, pervert, profligate, rake, rakehell, rip

Words Related to degenerate

bankrupt, delinquent, derelict, incorrigible

blackguard, cad, heel, knave, miscreant, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scoundrel, villain

lecher, playboy, playgirl, satyr

Near Antonyms of degenerate

degenerate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of degenerate

to become worse or of less value

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

Synonyms of degenerate

atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen

Words Related to degenerate

abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane

break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy

lessen, lower, reduce

debilitate, undermine

droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt

Phrases Synonymous with degenerate

go to pot, go to seed (or run to seed)

Near Antonyms of degenerate

better, upgrade

enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen

advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Antonyms of degenerate

ameliorate, improve, meliorate

Learn More about degenerate

See words that rhyme with degenerate Dictionary: Definition of degenerate Medical Dictionary: Definition of degenerate Spanish Central: Translation of degenerate Nglish: Translation of degenerate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of degenerate for Arabic speakers

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tergiversation

evasion of direct action or statement

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