Degenerate Meaning
/dɪˈd͡ʒɛnəɹɪt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjHaving deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal, coherent, balanced and desirable to undesirable and typically abnormal.
adjHaving lost good or desirable qualities; hence also having bad character or habits, base, immoral, corrupt.
Sentence Examples
There remain great fears of seeing the clashes degenerate into massacres.
Though my uncle is homeless, I don't think he is a degenerate.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
He warned that the society would ____ without strong values.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
There remain great fears of seeing the clashes ____ into massacres.
Word Origin & History
Learned borrowing from Latin dēgenerātus. See -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"faint-hearted and degenerate king"
— 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3:
"But what can Cato do
Againſt a World, a baſe degenerate World,
That courts the Yoke, and bows the Neck to Cæſar?"
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
"As you grew more degenerate and base, I sent you millions of the croaking race"
— 1726, Jonathan Swift, Verses on St. Patrick's Well:
"If my boy is not tempted to gamble at a fashionable card party he will never learn from the degenerate, blackleg gamblers in the joint."
— 1918, Alexander Corkey, The Vision of Joy, or When "Billy" Sunday Came to Town:
"The author explores the gap between the degenerate, elitist society of the domes and the working population. He criticizes the world of luxury and ease that easily ignores the sufferings of the majority."
— 1985 February 2, Tim Broadbent, “Kindred Spirits (review)”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 28, page 10:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He warned that the society would ____ without strong values.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
There remain great fears of seeing the clashes ____ into massacres.