Degenerate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb noun /di-ˈjen-rət/ (adjective) /di-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt/ (verb) de·gen·er·ate

Meaning & Definition of Degenerate

Degenerate (adjective)

  1. having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state
  2. having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially, having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state, having low moral standards
  3. degraded

Degenerate (verb)

  1. to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition, deteriorate
  2. to sink into a low intellectual or moral state
  3. to decline in quality

Degenerate (noun)

  1. one that is degenerate
  2. one whose behavior is not morally right or socially acceptable
  3. a sexual pervert

Degenerate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit

    "a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers"

    similar: decadent, decayed, effete, overripe, washed-up
    related: overrefined, precious, decaying, declining, dying, failing, waning, debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, frail, languid, sapped, soft, wasted, weak, weakened, wimpy, dissolute, immoral, debased, debauched, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated

  2. having or showing lowered moral character or standards

    "a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers"

    similar: corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped
    related: bent (chiefly British), crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked
    opposite: pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted
    near: incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Degenerate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard

    "a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification"

    similar: backslider, debauchee, debaucher, decadent, deviate, libertine, perv, pervert, profligate, rake, rakehell, rip
    related: sickie, sicko, bankrupt, delinquent, derelict, incorrigible, blackguard, cad, heel, knave, miscreant, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scoundrel, villain, lecher, playboy, playgirl, satyr
    near: saint

Degenerate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers"

    similar: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Degenerate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Degenerate:

decadent, decayed, effete, overripe, washed-up, corrupt, debased, debauched, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped, backslider, debauchee, debaucher, deviate, perv, pervert, profligate, rake, rip, atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, descend, deteriorate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Degenerate

Words with the opposite meaning of Degenerate:

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, ameliorate, improve, meliorate

Related Words for Degenerate

overrefined, precious, decaying, declining, dying, failing, waning, debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, frail, languid, sapped, soft, wasted, weak, weakened, wimpy, immoral, bent, crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled

Near Antonyms of Degenerate

incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous, saint, better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Word Forms of Degenerate

Inflections: degenerated, degenerating, degenerates

Derived words: degenerately (adverb), degenerateness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Degenerate

Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind kin

First known use: circa 1505

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Degenerate

Frequently Asked Questions about Degenerate

What does "Degenerate" mean?

"Degenerate" means having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state. As an an adjective, a verb and a noun, it is defined as: having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Degenerate"?

Other words for "Degenerate" include decadent, decayed, effete, overripe, washed-up, corrupt, debased and debauched. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Degenerate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Degenerate"?

There are 139 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Degenerate". Common alternatives include decadent, decayed, effete, overripe, washed-up, corrupt, debased, debauched, degraded and demoralized.

What is the opposite of "Degenerate"?

Antonyms of "Degenerate" include pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, ameliorate, improve and meliorate. Near antonyms include incorruptible, ethical, honest and principled.

How do you use "Degenerate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Degenerate" in a sentence: "a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers"; "a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers"; "a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification".

Is "Degenerate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Degenerate" can be used as an adjective, a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Degenerate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Degenerate" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Degenerate"?

"Degenerate" is pronounced /di-ˈjen-rət/ as an adjective and /di-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as de·gen·er·ate.