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
Recent research indicates such degeneration can be a huge factor in Achilles ruptures.
—
Matt Villano, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025
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.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
The diagnosis causes progressive cognitive degeneration that can alter a person’s behavior, speech, emotional awareness, and movement, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 20 Nov. 2025
Not only are relapses unpredictable but scientists have yet to explain the slow and insidious degeneration that often occurs even without new lesions.
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Matt Villano, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025
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.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
The diagnosis causes progressive cognitive degeneration that can alter a person’s behavior, speech, emotional awareness, and movement, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 20 Nov. 2025
Not only are relapses unpredictable but scientists have yet to explain the slow and insidious degeneration that often occurs even without new lesions.
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneration
Noun
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Footage of the bunker’s deterioration has attracted global attention after Robinson and Charlton began posting videos online.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
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It is intended to slow the deterioration of streets that currently are in good condition, which is considered vital to improving the overall condition of San Diego’s network of roads, according to the city.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Developers are divided about how much this signals a weakening of what has been a scorchingly hot market for new multifamily housing.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
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Affordability has become a potent political issue, especially with the job market weakening.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Take this eye cream—retinol, Indonesian ginger, and iris extract are an unexpected trio that prevent the degradation of and promote the creation of collagen, increase hyaluronic acid production, improve circulation, firm, and plump skin.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
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But the ambiance impulse seems less about attention degradation than creating a magic circle around reading and deepening a sense of fantasy and escape.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The report describes a kind of doom loop of AI dependence, where students increasingly off-load their own thinking onto the technology, leading to the kind of cognitive decline or atrophy more commonly associated with aging brains.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2026
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The 11 citations represents a sharp decline from just months earlier.—
Mathew Miranda
January 14,
Sacbee.com,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Teeth become diseased with decay and resorptive lesions and, when removed, these cats often lead much happier and more comfortable lives.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
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These fission reactors relied on the slow decay of uranium to generate heat and electricity.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Years of high inflation and financial mismanagement eroded middle-class wealth, while high-level corruption has empowered a handful of businessmen to enrich themselves.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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David Bainbridge was the opening witness in what is expected to be a multi-day preliminary hearing that will decide whether Price, 75, should stand trial in a public corruption case.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nachmanoff pressed the Justice Department over whether a formal declination memo deciding against charges for Comey exists.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
19 Nov. 2025
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McLaughlin characterized the Fullerton officer’s response as a declination to help.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Oc Register,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degeneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneration. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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