There remain great fears of seeing the clashes degenerate into massacres.
Source: tatoeba (1233432)
Degenerate
/dɪˈd͡ʒɛnəɹɪt/
Synonyms for "degenerate" (345 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (69)
abandonedadulteratealloyalteralteredameliorateapostateapostatizebackslidebacksliderbad eggbad lotbasebe changedbe converted intobe renewedbetterblack sheepbottom outbreak
Noun(13 words)
Verb(4 words)
Strong matches (104)
decaydecayeddeclinedecliningdefectdefiledeflowerdegradedegradeddenaturedepravedepraveddescenddesecratedesertdespoildeterioratedeterioratingdevaluedeviant
Show 45 more words
deviatedisimprovedisintegratedisintegratingdissolutedissolve into chaosdistortdivergedivergentdiversifydrainingdroopingdwindlingebbingeffeteenervatederrfadingfailingfallfall backfallen angelfallingflagflaggingflagitiousflopfragmentingget worsegogo astraygo downhillgo to potgo to the dogsgo wronggoing to piecesgrow worsehaul aroundhave a comedownhit rock bottomignobleimmoralimproveimprovedimpure
Noun(18 words)
decaydecayingdeclinedecline of civilizationdegenerate celldegenerate formdegenerated tissuedegradation programdegradedegradeddepraveddeterioratedeteriorateddeviantdeviatedisorderinggangreningguttersnipes
Adjective(9 words)
Verb(11 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (172)
Noun(19 words)
indecentinfamousinfectinferiorjibekinkylanguishinglapselecherlecherouslet downlost sheeplost soullowmarcescentmeanmelioratemetamorphosedmetastasizedmiscreant
Show 119 more words
misusemitigatemodifiedmodulatemorally pollutedmutantmutatenefariousobsceneoutrageousoverripeperversepervertpervertedpimppiningpoisonpollutepollutedprofligateprostituteputridqualifiedrakerakehellravageravishreach the depthsrebuiltrecidivistrecreantreformedregressregressiverelapserenegaderenegerenewedreprobateretrograderetrogressretrogressivereturnrevertreviverevivedrevolutionaryrotrottenroueruinscapegraceseamyseedshiftshrivelingsickensinksinkingslackenslidingslipslip backslippingslumpingsorry lotstagnatesteeped in iniquitysubsidingsubversiveswervetabetictacktainttaintedtake a turntouch bottomtraitoroustransformedtranslatedtransmutedtreasonabletriptrollopturnturn againstturn asideturn intoturn the cornerturn traitortwistuglyulcerateundergo a changeunhealthyunmitigateduntunevaryveervice-corruptedviciousvilevillainousviolatevitiatevitiatedvulgarizewaningwarpwarpedwastingwastrelweakenwhorewiltingwitheringworseworsenworsening
Verb(9 words)
Adjective(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abandoned, adulterate, age related decline, alloy, alter.
- Sentence evidence is available for degenerate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "degenerate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "degenerate"
Keep "degenerate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "degenerate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "degenerate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "degenerate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
Collocations
9 entriesdegenerate behaviordegenerate celldegenerate conditiondegenerate formdegenerate specimendegenerate statedegenerate tissuedegenerate triangledegenerative process
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
Though my uncle is homeless, I don't think he is a degenerate.
Source: tatoeba (2332791)
Live can so easily degenerate into something sordid and vulgar.
Source: tatoeba (3573306)
In living through this "great epoch," it is difficult to reconcile oneself to the fact that one belongs to that mad, degenerate species that boasts of its free will. How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will! In such a place even I should be an ardent patriot.
Source: tatoeba (5225984)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "degenerate"?
Closest matches include abandoned, adulterate, age related decline, alloy, alter.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "degenerate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.