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
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
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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For now, all that can be said for certain, judging by the latest implosion in his current employers West Ham’s fast-deteriorating season, is that nobody has benefited from his falling-out with Edu and the sequence of events that brought about Nuno’s exit from the City Ground.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Iran has been racked by protests over the past several days around deteriorating economic conditions in the country, made worse by a growing water crisis and severe sanctions against Tehran.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And behind every man with a good name and a crumbling pile, there’s a wife shrewdly attending to the seating plan.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
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Even with oil shipments from Venezuela, widespread blackouts have persisted across Cuba given fuel shortages and a crumbling electric grid.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The shipments come as Cuba faces a worsening energy crisis, marked by rolling blackouts, fuel shortages, and mounting economic strain.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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For example, avoiding deep cleaning areas of your home can lead to worsening build-up of soap scum, bacteria, and other accumulating atrocities that can damage surfaces, bedding, plumbing, and even your appliances.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Sicilian way is to lie, like seals, sprawled along the rocks with a towel and a cold beer before descending abruptly into intense shades of blue.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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The rampant unpacking of his account descending into ad hominem attacks feels counterintuitive to what people want from celebrities now, a patina of authenticity.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mavis Leno's advanced dementia diagnosis was revealed in 2024, when her husband was granted conservatorship over her estate amid her declining health.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
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District leaders pointed to declining student achievement, a lack of resources for the school's special education program, and insurmountable financial issues with the school.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degenerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerating. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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