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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun degeneration differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of degeneration are decadence, decline, and deterioration. While all these words mean "the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality," degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

the degeneration of their youthful idealism into cynicism

When can decadence be used instead of degeneration?

Although the words decadence and degeneration have much in common, decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy.

cited love of luxury as a sign of cultural decadence

How are the words decline and decadence related as synonyms of degeneration?

Decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.

the meteoric decline of his career after the scandal

In what contexts can deterioration take the place of degeneration?

The words deterioration and degeneration are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness.

the deterioration of the house through neglect

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 degeneration Muscle degeneration occurs when one of those genes is mutated (a change in DNA sequence). Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 30 July 2024 Adkins, of Georgia, cared for her mother for a decade after her mom was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration dementia. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 22 May 2025 Histological examination showed no signs of retinal degeneration, even in individuals likely several hundreds of years old. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Moral degeneration accompanies the physical; lying is one of the outstanding characteristics, probably due to lack of moral equilibrium. Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneration
Noun
  • Respondents perceive a significant reduction in the probability of a severe deterioration in economic prospects.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 June 2025
  • Rossetti had been working on the CONCERN Study, which had successfully developed an AI model to detect patient deterioration in the hospital setting.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Despite the degradation of its military capabilities, Iran can leverage proxies, criminal organizations abroad, and cyberattacks to hit Israeli, and possibly U.S., targets.
    Nakissa Jahanbani, The Conversation, 20 June 2025
  • This natural degradation in data characteristics means an AI that once performed well might start making errors as its environment evolves.
    Ronen Cojocaru, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Cheng Xin/Getty Images New home prices fell 0.22 percent in 70 Chinese cities in May, the largest decline in seven months, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also contributed significantly to the squandering of its unipolar moment and setting off the decline of the American century.
    Narges Bajoghli, Time, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • That’s because warming increases the rate of decay of falling organic debris, so that less of it reaches the twilight zone.
    Tim Vernimmen, JSTOR Daily, 19 June 2025
  • Certainly not for novelty’s sake; we are hardly starved for dramas of mental decay, or for the stupendous feats of acting that are often achieved in their service.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Maybe the game doesn’t die in corruption but in the apathy of those who stop caring.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office claims that corruption tied to these export permits cost the state 12.3 trillion rupiah ($755 million).
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Where corporate criminal investigations resolve without filing any criminal charges (through a declination or deferred prosecution agreement), companies should expect victims to still voice their views loudly to the Justice Department and beyond.
    Lisa Zornberg, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Degeneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneration. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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