degenerate
verb (used without object)
to fall below a normal or desirable level in physical, mental, or moral qualities; deteriorate.
degenerated
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past participleof degenerate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof degenerate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
degenerateverb (used without object)to fall below a normal or desirable level in physical, mental, or moral qualities; deteriorate.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The opposite pattern appeared in rats whose orexin neurons had been selectively degenerated.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
By 2024, my hobby was starting to feel like work, and it was only a matter of time before the sport degenerated enough to make it official.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026
Wingtech representatives responded that the Dutch intervention was "incomprehensible" and meant the row "degenerated needlessly".
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
The storm prompted the first-ever tropical storm watches and warnings issued in California, but officials now say it had degenerated into a post-tropical low by the time it reached the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 22, 2024
Nana suggested cutting off his tail to make him more refined, but Clara had a tantrum that degenerated into an asthma attack and no one ever mentioned it again.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
