Synonyms of degenerate

degenerate 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈjen-rət 

1

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undecadent

2

as in corrupt

having or showing lowered moral character or standards

a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• corrupt
• degraded
• sick
• depraved
• decadent
• dissolute
• perverted
• crooked
• loose
• debased
• debauched
• warped
• demoralized
• libertine
• unclean
• vicious
• unwholesome
• spoiled
• perverse
• dissipated
• dishonest
• reprobate
• rakish
• immoral
• evil
• wicked
• bad
• unprincipled
• rakehell
• unscrupulous
• rakehelly
• jackleg
• contaminated
• bent
• unethical
• cutthroat
• sinful
• tainted
• iniquitous
• nefarious
• miscreant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pure
• uncorrupted
• incorruptible
• uncorrupt
• ethical
• moral
• honest
• good
• virtuous
• principled
• righteous

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

• pervert
• rake
• villain
• libertine
• deviate
• playboy
• derelict
• debauchee
• debaucher
• profligate
• backslider
• perv
• decadent
• bankrupt
• rakehell
• rip
• delinquent
• reprobate
• heel
• scoundrel
• rogue
• blackguard
• knave
• incorrigible
• cad
• miscreant
• rascal
• lecher
• satyr
• playgirl

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

• deteriorate
• descend
• worsen
• crumble
• decline
• decay
• devolve
• diminish
• rot
• atrophy
• retrograde
• regress
• sink
• run to seed
• ebb
• weaken
• disintegrate
• corrupt
• go to seed
• degrade
• sag
• fall
• decompose
• go to pot
• putrefy
• recede
• reduce
• dwindle
• downsize
• wane
• sour
• dilapidate
• slip
• undermine
• abate
• spoil
• debilitate
• languish
• run down
• waste (away)
• break down
• lessen
• droop
• molder
• wilt
• lower
• lag
• de-escalate
• fail
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improve
• ameliorate
• better
• upgrade
• enhance
• enrich
• intensify
• meliorate
• strengthen
• develop
• proceed
• heighten
• fortify
• progress
• advance
• march

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

Recent Examples of degenerate

Adjective

Full of legitimately funny, or maybe, just shocking moments when Drake calls Kendrick’s pro-Blackness a sham and Kendrick calls Drake a degenerate deadbeat. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 May 2024

Embodying nepotistic rot is Derek Danforth (played convincingly by Josh Hutcherson), the degenerate son of a prominent politician. —Giancarlo Sopo, National Review, 13 Jan. 2024

Noun

When valuable treasure is discovered off the coast of Korea, the country’s biggest degenerates come crawling out of the woodwork in the hope of striking it big. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024

When every game gets presented as a point spread, and when every shot becomes merely an input in a degenerate’s parlay math, the game feels cheapened. —Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024

Verb

Patty could degenerate into a post-tropical cyclone by late Sunday. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 2 Nov. 2024

Things degenerated from there, sloppy defense contributing to another run in the seventh and a three-run eighth for the Brewers, who pulled away to win 8-3, handing the Braves their seventh loss in nine games. —David O'Brien, The Athletic, 29 July 2024