1. (n.) The act or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration.

2. (n.) That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure; as, fatty degeneration of the liver.

3. (n.) A gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type.

4. (n.) The thing degenerated.

abandon abandonment abjection about-face accommodation adaptation adjustment alteration amelioration apostasy atrophy betterment break change change of heart changeableness closed loop closed sequence comedown constructive change continuity conversion corruptedness corruption corruptness current-control circuit debasement decadence decadency declension declination decline defection deformation degeneracy degenerateness degenerative change degradation demoralization demotion depravation depravedness depravity depreciation derogation descent deterioration deviation devolution difference discontinuity dissoluteness divergence diversification diversion diversity downfall downgrade downtrend downturn downward mobility downward trend drop dying ebb effeteness fading failing failure failure of nerve fall falling-off feedback fitting flip-flop flip-flop circuit gradual change improvement involution lapse loss of tone melioration mitigation modification modulation moral pollution moral turpitude overthrow perversion positive feedback process loop profligacy qualification quality loop radical change re-creation realignment redesign reform reformation regression remaking renewal reprobacy reshaping restructuring retrocession retrogradation retrogression reversal reversed feedback revival revivification revolution rottenness shift slippage slump sudden change switch total change transition turn turnabout turpitude upheaval variation variety violent change wane worsening