as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers
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Recent Examples of degenerating
But in general, any organic media is going to start degenerating over time, and the pH is going to be higher.
—
Ryan Conner, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026
Scientists have hailed the benefits of exercising early in life to lower the risk of your brain degenerating later.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
In the Pacific, meteorologists are watching to see how much rain the degenerating Tropical Storm Mario could carry into the San Diego region.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Ryan Conner, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026
Scientists have hailed the benefits of exercising early in life to lower the risk of your brain degenerating later.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
In the Pacific, meteorologists are watching to see how much rain the degenerating Tropical Storm Mario could carry into the San Diego region.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerating
Verb
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Israel withdrew its diplomats amid security concerns and deteriorating relations with Turkey, following the war in Gaza.—
Suzan Fraser,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Israel withdrew its diplomats amid security concerns and deteriorating relations with Turkey during the war in Gaza.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The foundation of the house was crumbling, so Michigan Humane called the Detroit Fire Department for assistance.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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However, that all came crumbling down in March 2023 when Madix discovered that her partner of nearly a decade was having a months-long affair with her close friend and costar, Leviss.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This also might be an opportunity to express your concern about his worsening drinking and ask him to get help.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
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But with one-fifth of the world’s oil supply still largely bottled up in the Persian Gulf, which provides more than 80% of Asia’s energy supplies, shortages are worsening and getting hard to stave off with contingency measures.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Video from the rescue shows the helicopter descending near the Seneca River and then hovering over the water, where the dog is struggling to keep its head above the surface.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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But then, suddenly, a silhouette appears, quickly descending those stairs.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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European luxury is entering a high-stakes first-quarter reporting period as sentiment has taken a decisive hit, just as many of the sector's big names were nearing a turning point after years of declining sales.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degenerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerating. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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