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
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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
Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
There’s the medieval brutality: Gómez was a homicidal degenerate who collected torture methods instead of stamps.
—Tim Padgett, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
David McWilliams, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
When a seemingly routine Oval Office press conference degenerated into a shouting match on 28 February, the world looked on in astonishment.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2025
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
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
There’s the medieval brutality: Gómez was a homicidal degenerate who collected torture methods instead of stamps.
—Tim Padgett, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
Verb
What if European savers, depicted by MAGA evangelists as rich and degenerate progressives, sold American assets and repatriated their savings?
—David McWilliams, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
When a seemingly routine Oval Office press conference degenerated into a shouting match on 28 February, the world looked on in astonishment.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degenerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerate
Adjective
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The inference here is that women’s speech is coded as weak and men’s, the direct opposite.—
Megan C. Reynolds,
Time,
27 June 2025
-
Total textile and apparel exports declined from $44.4 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $35.8 billion in fiscal year 2024 (ending March 31), due to weak global demand and elevated production costs.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Many of Trump's supporters dislike Zelensky, viewing him as corrupt and an obstacle to peace.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
-
Vote out the trustees enabling this corrupt culture.—
Amy Reichert,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Special-guest pervert Frank (Sam Rockwell) showcases a monologue about his autogynephilia.—
Armond White,
National Review,
9 Apr. 2025
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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
Verb
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The Astros traded Pressly as a pure salary dump, influenced in part by his deteriorating relationship with general manager Dana Brown.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Thousands of small communities whose economies once revolved around plants have deteriorated to depression, drugs, and dollar stores.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Shot on low-grade digital cameras that made every image look even more apocalyptic and degraded, the film remains utterly terrifying, boasting excellent supporting turns from Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson as Jim’s fellow survivors.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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The good news is that General Mills is more than 60% of the way to achieving its goal of advancing regenerative agriculture—farming practices that regenerate degraded soil—on a million acres of land by 2030.—
Dave Levinthal,
Fortune,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Last year, Japan saw record numbers of international visitors, many of whom descend on regions like Kyoto to buy high-grade matcha rarely available overseas.—
HubSpot,
HubSpot,
20 June 2025
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The sixty-eight-year-old Harold Boyd was lifting weights inside his modest home gym when the brothers descended the basement steps.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Past the tiny front gate, the space reveals its captivatingly decadent allure.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
20 June 2025
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But for every wellness influencer touting the nutritional benefits of whole milk, there are creators leaning into milk’s decadent appeal.—
Ashliene McMenamy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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King Charles and Kate Middleton were both diagnosed with cancer, with the King reportedly still very sick.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
20 June 2025
-
If Rob and Ryan are struck by lightning, get bored, fall out, get sick or lose a court case, will Wrexham look so transcendent?—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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