1
as in weak
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers
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2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of degenerate
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
What should be a gripping thriller centered on new, uncharted technology and questionable loyalties degenerates into a jumbled mess.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2025
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
Floaters are most common in people over age 50 because that’s when the vitreous gel typically begins to degenerate, a process called vitreous syneresis, Starr said.
—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Adjective
German Expressionism and Surrealism, deemed degenerate by Nazis and Soviets alike, show up in stylized figuration, spatial distortion, and a dreamlike atmosphere.
—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
Ike Barinholtz may play degenerates well, but, off screen, the writer, comedian and star is something of a trivia savant.
—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
What should be a gripping thriller centered on new, uncharted technology and questionable loyalties degenerates into a jumbled mess.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
Murderous encounters dating to the Risdon Cove settlement eventually degenerated into the Black War (1804–30), a period of great physical conflict between the Aboriginal population and European settlers.
—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
Floaters are most common in people over age 50 because that’s when the vitreous gel typically begins to degenerate, a process called vitreous syneresis, Starr said.
—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerate
Adjective
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Depressed wages, a weak currency and hyperinflation have continued to make life difficult for ordinary Venezuelans, many of whom struggle to afford basic goods.
-
There, the Sox scored on a weak, off-line throw from shallow left fielder José Caballero.
Adjective
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In reality, leaders on both sides are corrupt and always on the edge of disaster.
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My career actually focuses on bonding and preventing taxpayers from being on the hook for the failures of bankrupt and corrupt companies.
Noun
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Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.
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You are being spied on by a pervert.
Verb
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England reached stumps on 103-4 after 15 overs, still needing 270 runs in its seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a deteriorating pitch and heading for a first defeat in a home series of three or more tests since 2012.
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Intensifying wildfires across eastern Utah and western Colorado are sending thick smoke into portions of the state, creating hazy skies and deteriorating air quality for many mountain and western Colorado communities.
Adjective
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Discard any that look dead or decayed.
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The farm buildings on the property—long verandas, shearing sheds, and concrete kennels—are old and decayed, remnants from long before the group showed up.
Adjective
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Even when degraded, enzymes have stable backbones that might be capable of catalyzing reactions, said Sudha Rajamani, an astrobiologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune who wasn’t involved in the study.
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According to the company, QTT enables highly secure and resilient position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, helping maintain accurate timing and synchronization even when traditional GPS and radio-frequency signals are unavailable, degraded, or intentionally jammed.
Verb
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Then something unusual happened as Valdez descended in the boom lift with Pinky’s remains.
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Collin Morikawa birdied 18 to catch Scheffler and ducked into the clubhouse at 20 under as the rains descended upon the TPC River Highlands.
Adjective
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The casual lunch menu has dishes like crab cakes and roast beef sandwiches, while the Alexander Dobbin dinner menu centers on more decadent eats like lamb chops, veal, and standing beef rib roast.
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The bakery and its decadent creations — rotating flavors like Maple Bacon Glazed, Chocolate Salted Caramel Old-Fashioned, Lime Mascarpone Bismark and the CroDough (croissant doughnut) — made their debut recently at the San Jose center’s Park Valencia.
Cite this Entry
“Degenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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