1
as in degradation
a change to a lower state or level
the sad degeneracy of the old neighborhood into a slum
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corruption
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the degeneracy of the family into a gang of petty thieves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degeneracy
America, Where the Dogs Don’t Bark and the Birds Don’t Sing
The Comte de Buffon's thirty-six volume Natural History claimed that America was a land of degeneracy.
—
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
This is how pop stars validate the unconscionable — from selfishness to degeneracy and crime.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023
But the shadow of degeneracy still looms large.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
In effect, compounding interest (historically low for the past decade but lately headed upwards) must outrun the costs of taxation (declining globally), procreation (declining in wealthier countries), and the loafing and degeneracy that attend the inheritance of great fortunes.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
This is how pop stars validate the unconscionable — from selfishness to degeneracy and crime.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023
But the shadow of degeneracy still looms large.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
In effect, compounding interest (historically low for the past decade but lately headed upwards) must outrun the costs of taxation (declining globally), procreation (declining in wealthier countries), and the loafing and degeneracy that attend the inheritance of great fortunes.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degeneracy
Noun
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This is, in part, about the degradation, devaluation, and replacement of writers.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate volatility have become immediate operational threats.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Confidential finds a powerful political lobbyist shot to death, his apparent suicide highlighting a bizarre turn in Ohio’s largest public corruption case accidentaly uncovered by federal investigators that was nearly concealed by loose super PAC campaign financing rules.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2025
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In short, the Chicago area has a history of red-light camera corruption.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As leaders in the industry who have spent countless hours underground repairing failing gas lines, our licensed gas contractors have witnessed firsthand the deterioration of our state’s natural gas infrastructure.—
Harley Flack,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
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Not spending enough time in the two deep stages of slumber might speed up the deterioration of parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In contrast, during 2016-16 the lunar declination varied from only 18.5 degrees north to 18.5 degrees south.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2025
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Red and declinations to rust and burgundy at Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta.—
WWD,
WWD,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
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Apparel exports from Turkey saw a decline of 6 percent in January-February 2025, and a drop of 4.47 percent year-on-year in 2024, with the last month of the year falling almost 11 percent.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Apr. 2025
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Walmart's stock has experienced a notable decline amid a nationwide boycott and broader market volatility.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Its descent can evoke a range of emotions, including awe, sadness and fear.—
Tracy Scott Forson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
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Margaret Atwood’s dystopian allegorical novel didn’t over-explain the U.S.’ descent into fascist theocracy and thus left itself open to interpretation — so open that even American conservatives were able to claim it as a warning about Muslim fundamentalism.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Baggy bombers were spotted on the runway at Saint Laurent’s spring 2025 fashion show, which clearly nodded to the decade of decadence, while boho styles — including Penny Lane coats — have seen a major resurgence in the past year.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
9 Mar. 2025
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After all, Capricorn is an Earth sign and indulges in pleasures and decadence.—
Lisa Stardust,
refinery29.com,
8 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Degeneracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degeneracy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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