'Degenerate' definitions:

Definition of 'degenerate'

From: WordNet
adjective
Unrestrained by convention or morality; "Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women" [syn: debauched, degenerate, degraded, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, profligate, riotous, fast]
noun
A person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior [syn: pervert, deviant, deviate, degenerate]
verb
Grow worse; "Her condition deteriorated"; "Conditions in the slums degenerated"; "The discussion devolved into a shouting match" [syn: devolve, deteriorate, drop, degenerate] [ant: convalesce, recover, recuperate]

Definition of 'Degenerate'

From: GCIDE
  • Degenerate \De*gen"er*ate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Degenerating.]
  • 1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate. [1913 Webster]
  • When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Degenerate'

From: GCIDE
  • Degenerate \De*gen"er*ate\, a. [L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship.] Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low. [1913 Webster]
  • Faint-hearted and degenerate king. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • A degenerate and degraded state. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Degenerate from their ancient blood. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
  • These degenerate days. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? --Jer. ii. 21. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'degenerate'

From: GCIDE
  • degenerate \de*gen"er*ate\, n.
  • 1. a person who has declined from a high standard, especially a sexual deviate; -- usually used disparagingly or opprobriously of persons whose sexual behavior does not conform to the norms of accepted morals. [PJC]
  • 2. a person or thing that has fallen from a higher to a lower state, or reverted to an earlier type or stage of development or culture. --RHUD [PJC]

Synonyms of 'degenerate'

From: Moby Thesaurus