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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degeneration
Clinical studies have reported improvements in peripheral neuropathy, retinal degeneration and certain neurological disorders.
—
Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
James turned forty-one at the end of that month, an age at which many people start to notice the normal degeneration of their tendons and joints.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai found traces of Chlamydia pneumoniae – a bacterium that's best known for causing respiratory infections – in the eye's retinal tissue, and higher levels of this pathogen correlated with advanced degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
—New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
By targeting the underlying neuronal degeneration, ER-100 is positioned as a potential disease-modifying treatment rather than a symptomatic fix.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
James turned forty-one at the end of that month, an age at which many people start to notice the normal degeneration of their tendons and joints.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai found traces of Chlamydia pneumoniae – a bacterium that's best known for causing respiratory infections – in the eye's retinal tissue, and higher levels of this pathogen correlated with advanced degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
—New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
By targeting the underlying neuronal degeneration, ER-100 is positioned as a potential disease-modifying treatment rather than a symptomatic fix.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degeneration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneration
Noun
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Still, any miscalculation or direct confrontation at sea could tip the diplomatic posturing into rapid deterioration and risk jeopardizing the fragile stability in the detente between Washington and Beijing.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Toss any berries showing signs of deterioration.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, Democrats took the opportunity to grill Kennedy on the upsurge in vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, under his watch and the weakening of the childhood vaccine schedule.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
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The fact that weakening was observed at all four locations is significant, said Shane Elipot, a physical oceanographer at the University of Miami and a report author.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But researchers who study fertility trends say the decline is driven by forces that have little to do with contraception access and that restricting it is unlikely to produce more births.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Cities and towns around the state with large immigrant populations have seen steep enrollment declines over the last year, says the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, as families have been deported or voluntarily returned to their home countries amidst heightened anxiety.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the blasting afternoon sun, the stench of fermenting earth and decay steams off the marsh.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
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Power from radioactive decay NRD claims the battery can deliver power outputs ranging from 5 nanowatts to 500 nanowatts.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Vatican says fighting corruption in the mineral-rich country and insisting on the correct uses of political authority are expected to be themes of Leo’s visit, which starts Wednesday with his arrival in Yaounde, the capital.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The election reflects Peru’s deep political instability — nine presidents in ten years — amid voter anger over crime and corruption, though the country’s economy has remained relatively resilient.—
Franklin Briceño,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
31 Mar. 2026
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Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degeneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneration. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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