DEGENERATED Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

degenerated 1 of 2

adjective

as in deteriorated

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degenerated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of degenerate

as in worsened

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 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 degenerated

Verb

The Philadelphia Eagles drastically overhauled their playbook after their offense degenerated in 2025, and the technical and philosophical changes Hurts must master demand a departure from the comfort zones of past systems. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Now, Artnet News reports that her troubles have compounded, with the loss of a seven-acre house in the Hamptons, sold in a sidewalk foreclosure auction that quickly degenerated as police were called to intervene. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 In the Atlantic Ocean, former Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened and degenerated into a post-tropical remnant low on Thursday, the center said. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Macron’s highest aspirations to, as a modern Talleyrand, inject himself and solve global issues such as Ukraine, Africa’s Sahel, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran have fallen short, degenerated into petty feuds, or backfired. — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Last fall, a Krousty Sabaïdi giveaway promoted by popular French influencer Fares Salvatore, who has more than 868,000 followers on TikTok, degenerated into mayhem when the call-out attracted 3,000 teenagers. — Vivian Song, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerated

Adjective

Clark said the supports are needed because equipment used in the investigation is too heavy and difficult to maneuver safely on the deteriorated floor.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
According to the officer, the decision to classify Sands' death as such was the result of the deteriorated condition of his body.

— Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026

Definition of deteriorated

Verb

Even though it’s often served composed, the ingredients — bacon, tomatoes, egg and blue cheese — are cut (or crumbled) to the same size.

— Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
An agreement reached in June quickly crumbled, with no sign of diplomatic progress since then.

— Joseph Krauss, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of crumbled

Adjective

Raw chicken juice cross-contaminated onto raw squid when an employee stacked a container of raw chicken on top of the squid container.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Many Coloradans spent the last few months changing their diets, avoiding produce in fear of tainted food, as nearly 20,000 people across the country were sick after a historic cyclospora outbreak that came from contaminated lettuce.

— Jaimie Dodge, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of contaminated

Verb

There was another hint — this one visible to more than just a select few people — when Mas and his Spanish team descended on another principality, Monaco, for the race’s start.

— Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Sheehan and other men of Patrol 2 got the call and descended the long ramp, several stories deep into the debris pile, and helped bring Keith back to the top.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of descended

Adjective

In Wilmington, officials are looking into why a couple of polluted tidal creeks in the area are struggling to recover despite restoration efforts.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
But flood control cut off that supply, replacing it with polluted canals.

— Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of polluted

Verb

The Pentagon declined to address questions about the accounting discrepancy.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Thrive Eternal, the sports properties company run by incoming Lakers owner Joshua Kushner, declined to comment because the NBA has not yet approved the sale.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of declined

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degenerate

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“Degenerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerated. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of degenerated

adjective

verb

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