as in deteriorated
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Dissimilar Words
as in worsened
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
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Recent Examples of degenerated
Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Our national political and cultural discourse, especially online, has degenerated into a permanent fever dream.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The bear bowled Propst over backward, and the encounter degenerated into lopsided hand-to-fang combat.
—John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
After a police operation in Rio de Janeiro in October degenerated into a chaotic shootout, leading to more than 120 deaths, Brazilian civil society groups reacted in horror.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Our national political and cultural discourse, especially online, has degenerated into a permanent fever dream.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The bear bowled Propst over backward, and the encounter degenerated into lopsided hand-to-fang combat.
—John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerated
Adjective
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The films arrived in deteriorated condition, with about 10 reels that had been shuttled from basements to barns to garages.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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The cheaper real estate solution would typically be to tear down a deteriorated structure, Matthews told The News.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In fact, too many swings in the batting cages may have only worsened their issues as the season progressed.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
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Aluminum hit the highest in almost four years before erasing gains, as escalating hostilities in the Middle East worsened the supply outlook from the region.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last summer, the fastball effectiveness crumbled.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Overblown fears Software stocks crumbled in January, down nearly 15%, and February, off 10%, on fears that agentic artificial intelligence could make traditional software-as-a-service models obsolete.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Inspectors found widespread water intrusion, corroded piping and deteriorating concrete throughout City Hall and its two-level underground garage.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Feb. 2026
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Frail elderly women, swathed in headscarves and saris, worshipped while sitting on puddled pavement near corroded metal changing lockers plastered with ads for Glow & Lovely skin cream.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That night, law enforcement descended on the Wondras’ property off of Redwing Street in Fruitland, not far from where Michael lived.—
Alex Brizee
March 5,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
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When federal immigration agents descended on their city, officers deported Gabi's father, then detained her aunt.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If exposed, find fresh air, rinse your eyes with room-temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes, remove contaminated clothing, and wash your body with soap and water.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
25 Feb. 2026
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Mercury exposure in humans, which can affect the brain, cardiovascular and nervous systems, often occurs through consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish.—
Connor Giffin,
Louisville Courier Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Township officials also offered assistance during a public meeting to help address those concerns, but the university declined the help, the lawsuit alleges.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Army Corps declined to comment for this article, citing the ongoing lawsuit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Founded by Aurelie Fontan, Meredith Wood and Christopher Ferguson in the United Kingdom, the approach extracts natural pigments from plants grown on polluted land while contributing to soil restoration.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Mar. 2026
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Their waterways are polluted and undrinkable, yet citizens still wash their clothes and utensils in them.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degenerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerated. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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