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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 degenerate
Zachary Siegel, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024
The result is a book laden with put-downs of the English working class, who are cast in eugenicist terms as a degenerate race.
—Lennard J. Davis, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2024
Tim Padgett, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
When valuable treasure is discovered off the coast of Korea, the country’s biggest degenerates come crawling out of the woodwork in the hope of striking it big.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Mehmet Oz, who would supervise Medicare and Medicaid, was a respected heart surgeon before degenerating into snake-oil television salesmanship.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Adjective
Or have his years in finance scrambled his brain and turned him into a degenerate gambler, both at the office and outside it?
—Zachary Siegel, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024
The result is a book laden with put-downs of the English working class, who are cast in eugenicist terms as a degenerate race.
—Lennard J. Davis, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2024
Noun
There’s the medieval brutality: Gómez was a homicidal degenerate who collected torture methods instead of stamps.
—Tim Padgett, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
When valuable treasure is discovered off the coast of Korea, the country’s biggest degenerates come crawling out of the woodwork in the hope of striking it big.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Verb
This latest performance degenerated into a litany of basic defensive errors, as illustrated by all three of Brentford’s first-half goals.
—Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Mehmet Oz, who would supervise Medicare and Medicaid, was a respected heart surgeon before degenerating into snake-oil television salesmanship.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerate
Adjective
-
The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2025
-
Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
That included former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who wrote in her resignation letter that Adams had entered into a corrupt quid pro quo with Trump to get rid of his case by offering immigration enforcement assistance in exchange for a dismissal.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2025
-
He has been banned for life from the city of Bonita Springs, having once sunk a corrupt city councilman’s party barge, but shows little remorse.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Just when things are looking up — a haughty British couple leaves this daughter of Oxfordshire a handsome tip — the dinner pervert turns up for his morning coffee.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Outside the courthouse on Friday, Toner’s lawyer made a brief statement about his pervert client.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In March, Rose Shalom of Sunland lost her husband, Mannie Rezende, who had slowly deteriorated from Alzheimer’s over several years.—
Steve Lopez,
Mercury News,
7 May 2025
-
But their relationship deteriorated as both countries became less secular.—
David Makovsky,
Foreign Affairs,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
Maltz served as the lead author on a meta-analysis of how soil inoculation with different species of mycorrhizal fungi can affect degraded ecosystems.—
Lauren Oster,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
-
For example, sponsor initiatives to restore degraded ecosystems, protect endangered species or support reforestation.—
Jamie Houston,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Over 12 days, actors, directors, producers, influencers and the like will descend onto the carpeted steps — not just to promote their latest feature film at the high temple of world cinema, but also to turn a look.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
-
The haunting Frendo the Clown, which had been previously glimpsed dispatching teens in a potentially supernatural manner, descends on a farmhouse party filled with drunk teens.—
William Earl,
Variety,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
And Atelier Plume, a delightful pastry shop that will transport you to Paris with decadent French pastries.—
Livia Hengel,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
-
Treat yourself to a decadent weekend filled with bacon and bourbon in Keystone.—
Sarah Kuta,
Denver Post,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
This is a vital step not just for those currently facing a terminal diagnosis, but for the many Californians who aren’t sick now but may be someday.—
Christie Golemb,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 May 2025
-
Parents might use those days to stay home with a sick child, while others might use a non-work day to help a family member in need or take a pet to the vet.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerate. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share