1
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the organization's degeneration from a movement for political reform to just another political party
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2
as in weakening
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the troubling degeneration of his memory since he reached middle age
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3
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the general degeneration that characterized so many old mining towns, which had only drinking and gambling for entertainment
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Recent Examples of degeneration
The diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, a brain disorder caused by degeneration of the brain's frontal lobe, comes nearly a year after Willis' family confirmed the movie icon, now 67, was stepping away from acting due to an aphasia diagnosis.
—
Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Following his retirement from acting in 2022 due to an aphasia diagnosis, Willis' family revealed in February 2023 that the actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a brain disorder caused by degeneration of the brain's frontal lobe.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
The effect is particularly pronounced for cells that are very energy-hungry, like brain cells – causing the gradual degeneration seen with Parkinson’s disease.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2025
Importantly, Alan explained that methylene blue can cross from the bloodstream into the brain—a key factor for effectively treating cognitive diseases related to brain cell degeneration.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Following his retirement from acting in 2022 due to an aphasia diagnosis, Willis' family revealed in February 2023 that the actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a brain disorder caused by degeneration of the brain's frontal lobe.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
The effect is particularly pronounced for cells that are very energy-hungry, like brain cells – causing the gradual degeneration seen with Parkinson’s disease.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2025
Importantly, Alan explained that methylene blue can cross from the bloodstream into the brain—a key factor for effectively treating cognitive diseases related to brain cell degeneration.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneration
Noun
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This may further contribute to a deterioration in hard data and usher in an economic recession.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
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That led to a deterioration of ties with Pakistan, which also claims the region.—
Fayaz Bukhari,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Beyond infrastructure strain, our information environment also shows signs of degradation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
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All penguins face threats created by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is a result of a profit-first capitalist system in crisis in the epoch of imperialism’s decline.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
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Gold’s warning What’s more, the spike in gold prices this year has continued to signal a risk-off mentality among investors, as gold tends to rally during periods of decline in stocks.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One hundred and thirteen years later, much of the great vessel — and what’s left of its splendors — remains in the same spot it was found four decades ago in 1985, though decay and human interference have changed its form over time.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Water fluoridation has been proven to be so effective at preventing tooth decay that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named it one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, a time during which Americans' life expectancies rose by 30 years.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In practice, the memo explained, the reports should be scrubbed of references such as those to prison abuses, government corruption, and locking up dissidents without due process.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2025
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That focus on wholesome foods, drug safety, and eliminating corruption in pharmaceuticals and the food industry has justifiably captured public enthusiasm.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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The sun's changing declination is what determines whether the sun's rays strike us at a low angle or more directly.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degeneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneration. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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