degenerative

D2E1G2E1N1E1R1A1T1I1V4E1
UK/dɪˈdʒɛn(ə)ɹətɪv/

adjective

Characterized by or causing degeneration.

Similar
chronic
Less commonScrabble 17
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

adjectivedegenerative (comparative more degenerative, superlative most degenerative)

comparative more degenerative · superlative most degenerative

  1. Characterized by or causing degeneration.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjective(of illness) marked by gradual deterioration of organs and cells along with loss of function

Similar
chronic
Also see
chronic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From degenerate + -ive.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans degeneratief
  • degeneratiefcharacterized by or causing degeneration
Catalan degeneratiu
  • degeneratiucharacterized by or causing degeneration
Dutch degeneratief
  • degeneratiefcharacterized by or causing degeneration
French dégénératif
  • dégénératifcharacterized by or causing degeneration
German degenerativ
  • degenerativcharacterized by or causing degeneration
Hungarian degeneratív
  • degeneratívcharacterized by or causing degeneration
Indonesian degeneratif
  • degeneratifcharacterized by or causing degeneration
Italian degenerativo
  • degenerativocharacterized by or causing degeneration
Portuguese degenerativo
  • degenerativocharacterized by or causing degeneration
Russian дегенерати́вный
  • дегенерати́вный (degeneratívnyj)characterized by or causing degeneration
Spanish degenerativo
  • degenerativocharacterized by or causing degeneration
Cite this entry
APA

degenerative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/degenerative

MLA

“degenerative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/degenerative. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “degenerative,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/degenerative.

Source: degenerative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.