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1. Dictionary

   De·gen·er·ate

   adjective

   • 1. having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline: "a degenerate form of a higher civilization" Similar debaseddegradedcorruptcorruptedvitiatedbastardimpureOpposite pure
   • 2. lacking some property, order, or distinctness of structure previously or usually present. technical Similar corruptdecadentdissolutedissipateddebauchedrakishreprobateprofligatedepravedperverteddespicablebasevice-riddenwickedsinfulungodlyimmoralunprincipledamoraldishonorabledisreputableunsavorysordidlowmeanignoblelewdlecherouslasciviouslicentiouslibidinousloosepromiscuouswantonlibertineintemperateinformal:pervyOpposite moral
   • ▪ relating to or denoting an example of a particular type of equation, curve, or other entity that is equivalent to a simpler type, often occurring when a variable or parameter is set to zero.
   • ▪ relating to or denoting an energy level that corresponds to more than one quantum state.
   • ▪ relating to or denoting matter at densities so high that gravitational contraction is counteracted either by the Pauli exclusion principle or by an analogous quantum effect between closely packed neutrons.
   • ▪ having reverted to a simpler form as a result of losing a complex or adaptive structure present in the ancestral form: "degenerate offshoots from the main line of vertebrate progress"

   noun

   • 1. an immoral or corrupt person: "get out of my house, you degenerate!"

   verb

   • 1. decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally: "the quality of life had degenerated" Similar deterioratedeclinesinkslipslideworsenget/grow worsetake a turn for the worselapsefailfall offslumpgo downhillregressretrogressdecayrotgo to rack and ruininformal:go to potgo to the dogshit the skidsgo down the tubesgo down the toiletgo to the packrare:retrogradedevolvewaste awaywasteatrophyweakenbecome debilitatedOpposite improve

   Word Origin late 15th century: from Latin degeneratus ‘no longer of its kind’, from the verb degenerare, from degener ‘debased’, from de- ‘away from’ + genus, gener- ‘race, kind’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. degenerately adverb

   Scrabble Points: 12

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDEGENERATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   us / dɪˈdʒen·ər·ət /. bad or worse in quality or character, or (of a person) morally bad: He was a lazy, degenerate young man. (Definition of degenerate from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

3. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › degenerateDegenerate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › degenerate

   1. /dɪˈʤɛnərət/ a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable. 2. /dɪˈdʒɛnəˌreɪt/ grow worse. IPA guide. Other forms: degenerated; degenerates; degenerating; degenerately. If something degenerates, it gets worse, like a food fight that degenerates to an all-out spaghetti-throwing war.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDEGENERATE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   5 days ago · degenerate. British English: degenerate VERB / dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt /. If you say that someone or something degenerates, you mean that they become worse in some way, for example weaker, lower in quality, or more dangerous. Inactivity can make your joints stiff, and the bones may begin to degenerate.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › degenerateDEGENERATE definition | Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › degenerate

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   DEGENERATE meaning: 1. to become worse: 2. having low moral principles. Learn more.

6. www.thefreedictionary.com › degenerateDegenerate - definition of degenerate by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › degenerate

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   1. To fall below a normal or desirable state, especially functionally or morally; deteriorate: old water pipes that are degenerating with age; a dispute that degenerated into a brawl. 2. To decline in quality: The quality of his writing degenerated as he continued to drink. 3. To undergo degeneration.

7. www.yourdictionary.com › degenerateDegenerate Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

   www.yourdictionary.com › degenerate

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   Noun. Verb. Filter. adjective. Having declined, as in function or nature, from a former or original state. A degenerate form of an ancient folk art. American Heritage. Having sunk below a former or normal condition, character, etc.; deteriorated. Webster's New World. Morally corrupt; depraved. Webster's New World. Similar definitions.

8. www.britannica.com › dictionary › degenerateDegenerate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

   www.britannica.com › dictionary › degenerate

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   Britannica Dictionary definition of DEGENERATE. [count] disapproving. : a person whose behavior is not morally right or socially acceptable. a couple of degenerates on a crime spree. DEGENERATE meaning: to change to a worse state or condition to become worse, weaker, less useful, etc. often + into.