degenerating

verb

present participle of degenerate
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 degenerating McFarland found the items inside a degenerating family trunk. — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerating
  1. deteriorating
  2. crumbling
  3. worsening
  4. descending
  5. declining
Verb
  • According to court documents, Wilson’s relationship with the producers had started deteriorating before filming began in 2023 – and worsened during post-production.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • The unusual decision cites a deteriorating consumer environment, FullBeauty's debt, and substantial shareholder dilution.
    — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • They’re meant to be neat, self-contained, and easy to manage without dripping, crumbling, or requiring a balancing act at a cocktail table.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
  • Manchester, meanwhile, faced enormous challenges in its comeback, from high levels of poverty and unemployment to poor education and crumbling infrastructure.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • But, in the background, cost of living woes were worsening for others, and the wealth gap was widening.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • The complaint alleges that over the following nine days, an increasingly frail Willis faced a systematic failure to respond to a visible and worsening crisis.
    — Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • Similar tools can be applied to descending — particularly on a technical descent like Tuesday’s.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Co-directed by Alexandra Orton, the film combines Maddox’s personal video diaries, therapy sessions, and exclusive interviews while descending into Manson’s early background and sensationalized media persona as a monster.
    — Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 22 July 2026
Definition of descending
Verb
  • However, declining vaccination rates fueled by vaccine hesitancy have created pockets of susceptible individuals where the virus can spread quickly.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • Idaho’s divorce rate has been steadily declining for nearly half a century, and since 2020, has been below the low-water mark set in 1956, according to data collected since 1950.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 July 2026
Definition of declining

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degenerating
degeneration
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Cite this Entry

“Degenerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerating. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on degenerating

Nglish: Translation of degenerating for Spanish Speakers

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