DEGENERATING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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

Verb

Loose-leaf tea also utilizes larger grounds and leaf particles, which prevent the tea from deteriorating as quickly as similar bagged options.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
But Pavarini says the road remains in deteriorating condition despite the HOA signing a roughly $406,000 construction contract.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Verb

An islandwide blackout plunged Cuba’s nearly 10 million residents into darkness Monday, exposing a crumbling power grid and dwindling fuel reserves as officials raced to restore electricity.

— Milexsy Durán, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Of course, Microsoft’s browser dominance was crumbling by the time the EU managed to get that implemented.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of crumbling

Verb

Russia's economic situation Long queues have been seen at Russian petrol stations as the country grapples with a worsening fuel crisis.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 July 2026
The result is regional governments left with fewer resources to adapt to the worsening climate crisis, including efforts to combat water scarcity.

— Sarah Yerkes, Time, 10 July 2026

Definition of worsening

Verb

There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
For years now, Olathe Schools has talked about its problem of declining enrollment.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of declining

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degenerates

degenerating

degeneration

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“Degenerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerating. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of degenerating

verb

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