degenerative

[dih-jen-er-uh-tiv, -uh-rey-tiv] / dɪˈdʒɛn ər ə tɪv, -əˌreɪ tɪv /

ADJECTIVE

tending to diminish in quality

Synonyms

STRONGEST

backward deteriorating regressive retrogressive

STRONG

declinatory depressive dwindling frittering

WEAK

deleterious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

improving progressive

WEAK

expanding growing

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.

Participants with degenerative meniscal tears were randomly assigned to receive either partial meniscectomy or sham surgery, and their progress was tracked for 10 years.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

Parkinson's disease, is a degenerative condition which affects how your brain communicates with the muscles in the body.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in people exposed to repetitive head trauma; it can be diagnosed only after death.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Petrou was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disorder that leads to vision loss, at age 18.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Dr. Darwin was now in a wheelchair, Bessy was stuck in a fog, and Josiah was sinking from either a stroke or a degenerative neurological disease.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman