degenerates 1 of 2

noun

plural of degenerate
as in perverts
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification

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degenerates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of degenerate
as in deteriorates
to become worse or of less value over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 degenerates
Noun
The product exploded, generating trillions and minting a new class of crypto degenerates who were willing to take massive risks that, occasionally, resulted in millions. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026 In all vertebrates, the thymus degenerates very rapidly with age. — Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026 Ike Barinholtz may play degenerates well, but, off screen, the writer, comedian and star is something of a trivia savant. — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026 What should be a gripping thriller centered on new, uncharted technology and questionable loyalties degenerates into a jumbled mess. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 Dec. 2025 If this group of hardened degenerates was able to enjoy the action at this level, who, exactly, are the spiritual victims of sports betting? — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025 Once Gacy is caught, the media runs with the details — all those bodies crammed in that crawlspace, some of them buried in trenches Gacy made his employees dig out — and paints his victims as runaways or degenerates who put themselves in danger. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Volume 1 about a troubled pregnant woman who accepts an invite to a dinner party which degenerates into a bloody and demented nightmare. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerates
  1. perverts
  2. deteriorates
  3. descends
  4. crumbles
  5. worsens
  6. declines
Noun
  • This blatant fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This blatant expression of fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of perverts
Verb
  • Production volumes may remain high over a short period, even as supply security deteriorates.
    — Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • As the charging system deteriorates, electronic features may stop working properly.
    — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorates
Verb
  • As the plane descends, a lush landscape of verdant mountains that flow down into charming villages, beaches, and the crystal-clear waters beyond appears.
    — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Opening night 2027-28 Winnipeg can compete for the playoffs in 2027-28 if Björck ascends before Scheifele descends.
    — Murat Ates, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of descends
Verb
  • The person crumbles to the ground and gets hauled off to the hoosegow.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • That is the moment that everything crumbles for Rachel.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Definition of crumbles
Verb
  • Therefore, analysts note that if extreme weather worsens water and power scarcity, the impact could ripple through the entire semiconductor supply chain.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Ford said in an interview published Monday that Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the trade war worsens, putting a potentially powerful weapon on the table.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsens
Verb
  • The fee applies during the first 13 years of the agreement and gradually declines over the remaining initial term.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Recent findings show that early-career workers – ages 22 to 25 – in occupations most vulnerable to AI automation, such as software development and customer service, have experienced employment declines.
    — Maria Black, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of declines

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degenerateness
degenerates
degenerating
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Cite this Entry

“Degenerates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerates. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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