DEGENERATE Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'degenerate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of degenerate are corrupt , iniquitous , nefarious , vicious , and villainous . While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition. // a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Q: When would 'corrupt' be a good substitute for 'degenerate'?

While the synonyms corrupt and degenerate are close in meaning, corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations. // city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

Q: When is 'iniquitous' a more appropriate choice than 'degenerate'?

The synonyms iniquitous and degenerate are sometimes interchangeable, but iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness. // an iniquitous system of taxation

Q: Where would 'nefarious' be a reasonable alternative to 'degenerate'?

The words nefarious and degenerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct. // the nefarious rackets of organized crime

Q: In what contexts can 'vicious' take the place of 'degenerate'?

In some situations, the words vicious and degenerate are roughly equivalent. However, vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. // a vicious gangster

Q: When could 'villainous' be used to replace 'degenerate'?

The meanings of villainous and degenerate largely overlap; however, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic. // a villainous assault

degenerate 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈjen-rət

Definition of degenerate

as in weak

having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in corrupt

having or showing lowered moral character or standards a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

degenerate

2 of 3

noun

di-ˈjen-rət

as in pervert

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saint

degenerate

3 of 3

verb

di-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective degenerate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of degenerate are corrupt, iniquitous, nefarious, vicious, and villainous. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When would corrupt be a good substitute for degenerate?

While the synonyms corrupt and degenerate are close in meaning, corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

When is iniquitous a more appropriate choice than degenerate?

The synonyms iniquitous and degenerate are sometimes interchangeable, but iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

Where would nefarious be a reasonable alternative to degenerate?

The words nefarious and degenerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

In what contexts can vicious take the place of degenerate?

In some situations, the words vicious and degenerate are roughly equivalent. However, vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

When could villainous be used to replace degenerate?

The meanings of villainous and degenerate largely overlap; however, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

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 degenerate

Adjective

Populist theatrics, divorced from the prosaic work of consensus-building and problem-solving, degenerate into political escapism. — Will Marshall, Washington Post, 18 July 2026 Besides being the degenerate son of Priscilla Presley, and asking the public to fund this pipe dream, there's so much else to parse. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

Noun

Especially compared to the degenerates and felons all around him in the Mets clubhouse. — Literary Hub, 17 Apr. 2026 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

Verb

Now, Artnet News reports that her troubles have compounded, with the loss of a seven-acre house in the Hamptons, sold in a sidewalk foreclosure auction that quickly degenerated as police were called to intervene. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Dementia occurs when brain cells degenerate, especially in areas that support thinking, memory, decision-making, attention, and self-control. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for degenerate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for degenerate

Adjective

The age-old advice of keeping your passwords secure and being wary of suspicious emails is more important than ever as hackers gain more sophisticated tools and use AI to find more of the internet’s weak points.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Analysts expect profits and assets to cover the dividend through weaker timber periods.

— Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

Meanwhile, Democrats are strongly opposed to the kind of corrupt authoritarian government that Republicans seem unwilling to even speak out against.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
The policy aims to make cadres more disciplined, effective and less corrupt.

— KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Noun

Hansen, who left NBC in 2013 but remains a leader in the pervert-ambushing space, has spoken about having considered a sting operation against Jeffrey Epstein in 2015.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of pervert

Verb

Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant, experts have accused Israel of genocide, and Israel’s image has further deteriorated with a spike in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

— Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Their return on investment becomes clear when conditions deteriorate and the organization is still able to operate, invest and make decisions on its own terms.

— Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Adjective

Design choices previously thought to boost power, such as widening the gap between electrodes, actually degraded performance under true operating conditions.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
Initially, Pike’s attorneys and several death penalty experts raised the possibility that the drugs may have been too old or degraded to work as intended.

— Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of degraded

Verb

National reporters, big GOP donors and the president himself have descended on Kansas as Republicans seek to stave off Hamilton’s challenge.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
While descending, deputies said the climber ran into trouble after following an erroneous GPS route that led him onto the Whitney Glacier.

— Tim Fang, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of descend

Adjective

Rich, decadent, and far from impish best describes Byredo’s Havana Tonka.

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Elsa Hosk Swedish model Elsa Hosk wore the Fantasy Bra at the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show—a decadent lingerie creation made with more than 2,100 Atelier Swarovski diamonds.

— Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of decadent

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“Degenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degenerate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of degenerate

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