degrading

adjective

de·​grad·​ing di-ˈgrā-diŋ How to pronounce degrading (audio)
dē-
: causing or associated with a low, destitute, or demoralized state : causing someone to be or feel degraded
a degrading experience
… a work about a young man full of bottled rage looking for a degrading job …Penelope Gilliatt
… any cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment of detainees was absolutely forbidden …David Cole
degradingly adverb
"I hate to be poor, and we are degradingly poor, offensively poor, miserably poor, beastly poor." Charles Dickens
When employees are treated degradingly by their manager, they respond with decreased motivation, commitment, loyalty, and productivity. Ken Lloyd

Examples of degrading in a Sentence

made degrading comments about his so-called friend behind his back
Recent Examples on the Web Throughout her time in Danity Kane and later Diddy-Dirty Money, Richard claims that Combs would make degrading comments about her body and physical appearance. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2024 But that makes his capitulation only more degrading. Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2024 There are plenty of mocking or degrading images of Harris and other female Democratic politicians, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2024 Even the Australian government, whose model several European governments have hailed, has yet to address the degrading conditions in its external-processing centers in Manus and Nauru, despite huge investments. Elizabeth Collett, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017 See all Example Sentences for degrading 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'degrading.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of degrading was circa 1540

Dictionary Entries Near degrading

Cite this Entry

“Degrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degrading. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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