degenerate 1 of 3

degenerate

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noun

degenerate

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verb

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

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
Adjective
Ammon did appear tempted to talk the walk in Portland, to become the Mormon cowboy philosopher king wandering a degenerate realm of an ailing Republic, but by now time was in extremely short supply. Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024 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
Noun
At another point, a surface-to-air missile takes out a passenger airliner, something that really happened — but the attack is as purposeless here as the tragic original event, other than to remind us that Valet, who surveys the wreckage for valuables, is a degenerate. Boris Fishman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025 On The Challenge: Battle of the Eras, these now-geriatric degenerates will duke it out for the only prize worth fighting for: making their kids proud. Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
Verb
Overall, this study furthers our understanding of glycogen stores and how healthy neurons can quickly degenerate if the conditions for impeding metabolism are present. New Atlas, 30 June 2025 On Saturday, after a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests degenerated into violence, the administration reacted as if the country were on the brink of war. David French, Mercury News, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerate
Adjective
  • The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the latest 2024 Transparency International report, the Americas average 42 out of 100 points on a scale where 100 is very transparent and zero is very corrupt.
    Sofía Benavides, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • With the help of Landy and Nicky Parsons, Bourne goes up against Vosen (David Strathairn), the corrupt director of Operation Blackbriar.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Boiled down to a thoughtless pervert by the public, Six became one.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2025
  • What follows is a floor-by-floor descent into madness as Bobby battles bloodthirsty perverts, demonic flash mobs, and hallucinogenic suburban nightmares, all while trying to figure out if he’s meant to be the hero… or just the last guy standing.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • In San Francisco, a development called Hunters View built in 1956 to provide temporary workforce housing was still inhabited and badly deteriorating by the early 2000s.
    Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • But the relations have deteriorated significantly since the start of the war in Gaza, with Israeli officials voicing growing anger at Qatar, accusing the government of harboring Hamas and not putting enough pressure on it to agree to a ceasefire.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Of the 20 dead cats, eight were too decayed for a necropsy exam, which determines the cause of death of a dead animal and any associated diseases or injuries.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The breakthrough came when researchers focused on coelomic fluid, the internal liquid surrounding the sea stars’ organs, rather than tissue from decayed specimens.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Smoke will also lead to degraded air quality.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The challenge grows in degraded or denied GPS environments, where many existing bombs lose precision.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.
    Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
  • In September and October, the core of the Milky Way is visible as soon as twilight descends.
    Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Spacious walk-in closets, fresh flowers every day, and decadent soaking tubs add to the Ritz-Carlton feel.
    Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Our family rode all the classic rides at Magic Kingdom, journeyed to France at EPCOT via Skyliner for a decadent breakfast, spotted hippos and lions on an open-air safari tour at Animal Kingdom, and roasted s’mores over a toasty campfire at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.
    Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Degenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerate. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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