as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reduced
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorated
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in humiliated
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of degraded
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
About 900 flights experience GPS disruptions daily, with degraded GPS service affecting a dozen or so transatlantic flights.
—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Whereas many critics elevated Dryden, Milton, and later generations of English poets, such as the Romantics, Eliot proposes that English poetry has degraded since the 17th century.
—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Adjective
Air force and air defenses The Revolutionary Air Force and Air Defense Force are widely regarded as the most degraded branch of Cuba’s military.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
About 900 flights experience GPS disruptions daily, with degraded GPS service affecting a dozen or so transatlantic flights.
—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Verb
Since the fires first erupted, officials have urged people with respiratory or other health concerns to remain indoors as smoke has degraded air quality across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Whereas many critics elevated Dryden, Milton, and later generations of English poets, such as the Romantics, Eliot proposes that English poetry has degraded since the 17th century.
—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degraded
Adjective
-
In reality, leaders on both sides are corrupt and always on the edge of disaster.
-
My career actually focuses on bonding and preventing taxpayers from being on the hook for the failures of bankrupt and corrupt companies.
Verb
-
Data indicates declining trust in managers and reduced interest in leadership among younger generations.
-
Each union agreed to slightly different terms for how long the leave programs are in place and by how much salaries were reduced.
Verb
-
Israel and Turkey were once close allies, but ties deteriorated after Erdogan, whose party is rooted in Turkey’s Islamic movement, came to power.
-
The situation in Haiti has deteriorated since armed groups took control of most of Port-au-Prince in 2024.
Verb
-
Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.
-
The novel follows 16-year-old Abby, who is left humiliated after a private photo gets shared around school.
Adjective
-
Having a sick pet is emotionally a lot to handle.
-
Preventing infestation Just because one calf is sick doesn’t mean the entire herd will get it, Cammack said.
Verb
-
Teng gets a ‘breather’ The Astros demoted Kai-Wei Teng to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
-
She was transferred against her wishes from ELAC to Pierce College in Woodland Hills in May 1989 and was demoted from journalism head to an instructor, according to Times reporting.
Verb
-
Systems must remain safe not only when components fail naturally, but when data is corrupted, communication is interrupted or execution is violated.
-
And then Grisebach uses that distaff twist once again, to comment more broadly on the patriarchal nature and gendered violence of power structures corrupted by historical conflict.
Verb
-
Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.
-
Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.
Cite this Entry
“Degraded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degraded. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
