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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Another 2024 study published in Biology found that adults who did strength training had a lower biological age—suggesting that their bodies were deteriorating more slowly than is typical for their chronological age.—
Jamie Friedlander Serrano,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
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There are five other main characters with rapidly deteriorating lives that deserve our attention, but what is a recapper to do?—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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American oil companies were reluctant to pour money into Venezuela given the country’s crumbling infrastructure, its history of political instability, and the cost of refining its low-quality reserves.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
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For years, students have complained of mold and crumbling conditions at the school.—
Dennis Valera,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some sources say that the need to refocus on defense investment in light of the rising tensions with Russia and worsening relations with the United States, a once-key ally, are forcing the UK government to slash budgets.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Several Maryland school systems announced early dismissals Friday as forecasters warned of worsening weather conditions later in the day.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet (550 meters) up to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) before descending again.—
Josh Funk,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Tens of thousands of revelers will be descending on Gobbler’s Knob in rural Pennsylvania to witness this year’s prognostication, which will be made after groundhog Phil gets brought to the stage from his hatch on a tree stump.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, lung cancer incidence rates are declining slower in Iowa than in other states.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
5 Feb. 2026
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Measles-vaccination rates have been steadily declining for several years; since last January, the country has logged its two largest measles epidemics in more than three decades.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degenerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerating. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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