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

He's matured over the years, and that's always good to see in a degenerate young man. —Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025

All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave director Edward Berger is exploring another chill, very normal setting with a somewhat surreal thriller starring Colin Farrell as a degenerate gambler who is making a last-ditch effort to get out of the mountain of debt he’s made for himself. —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2025

Noun

Created by Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney, who also plays the character Mac), the Emmy-deserving series premiered 20 years ago on Aug. 4, 2005, introducing the world to a gang of morally bankrupt degenerates running the least successful bar in Philly, Paddy's Pub. —James Mercadante, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Novak: The fact that this group of degenerates, these bloodsucking, mass-murdering vampires and wannabe vampires, [could be] so lovable is amazing. —Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

Verb

The bear bowled Propst over backward, and the encounter degenerated into lopsided hand-to-fang combat. —John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025

Once Gacy is caught, the media runs with the details — all those bodies crammed in that crawlspace, some of them buried in trenches Gacy made his employees dig out — and paints his victims as runaways or degenerates who put themselves in danger. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025