degenerate
0 antonyms and opposites of degenerate, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Having declined from a former, better state; deteriorated.
How to use degenerate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin dēgenerātus, from dē- ("down from") + genus ("kind, birth") — literally "having fallen from one's kind."
Full origin of degenerate →Frequently asked questions
What does “degenerate” mean?
The word “degenerate” means having declined from a former, better state; deteriorated. In plain terms, something (or someone) that has gotten worse, often morally or structurally.
How do you pronounce “degenerate”?
“Degenerate” is pronounced dih-JEH-nuh-riht (/dɪˈd͡ʒɛnəɹɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “degenerate” in a sentence?
Here is “degenerate” used in a sentence: “Critics called the sequel a degenerate version of the original film.”
What part of speech is “degenerate”?
Depending on how it is used, “degenerate” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “degenerate” come from?
The word “degenerate” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin dēgenerātus, from dē- ("down from") + genus ("kind, birth") — literally "having fallen from one's kind.".
Is “degenerate” a common word?
“Degenerate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “degenerate” have?
“Degenerate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having declined from a former, better state; deteriorated.