1
as in reduces
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorates
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 humiliates
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
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Recent Examples of degrades
Those with respiratory problems and sensitive groups could experience issues as our air quality degrades a bit with the dust lingering overhead.
—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Trump, on the other hand, belittles and degrades people every day.
—
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
This degrades your brake system’s stopping power, which reduces the overall safety of your vehicle.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
This is a massive victory for refineries, as sulfur frequently degrades downstream equipment and catalysts.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
Thermomechanical recycling, another energy-intensive endeavor, relies on high-quality, homogeneous feedstock that can only be processed a limited number of times before the plastic degrades.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
Regular care maintains hygiene by preventing buildup, which degrades fabric and comfort over time.
—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
15 June 2026
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and slows barrier recovery.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
At the same time, companies that aggressively reduced headcount in favor of automation are discovering that their experience degrades when human judgment, empathy and context are removed.
—
Cerys Goodall,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Trump, on the other hand, belittles and degrades people every day.
—
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
This degrades your brake system’s stopping power, which reduces the overall safety of your vehicle.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
This is a massive victory for refineries, as sulfur frequently degrades downstream equipment and catalysts.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
Thermomechanical recycling, another energy-intensive endeavor, relies on high-quality, homogeneous feedstock that can only be processed a limited number of times before the plastic degrades.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
Regular care maintains hygiene by preventing buildup, which degrades fabric and comfort over time.
—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
15 June 2026
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and slows barrier recovery.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
At the same time, companies that aggressively reduced headcount in favor of automation are discovering that their experience degrades when human judgment, empathy and context are removed.
—
Cerys Goodall,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrades
Verb
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Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.
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Skipping the stove and oven also reduces indoor heat, so lean on cold sandwiches, salads and no-cook meals during the worst hours.
Verb
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The delivery was a glimmer of good news in a living situation that deteriorates by the day.
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Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
Verb
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Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
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Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.
Verb
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When the dollar weakens, commodity prices expressed in dollars tend to rise to maintain purchasing power parity for buyers operating in other currencies.
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But the corresponding upheaval is still catastrophic for any surrounding planets, which either get swallowed up by the expanding star, or drift into wider orbits as the star’s gravity weakens—some are flung out from the system entirely.
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.
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Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.
Verb
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Forgetting his bond with the land, Mariano awakens the Ch’iqmi, a dark force that corrupts his people.
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One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.
Verb
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Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.
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Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?
Verb
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Seen through the lens of the Civil War and its aftermath, the piece subverts every expectation.
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Although the Western genre is an ever-present influence, Grisebach subverts some of its tropes.
Cite this Entry
“Degrades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrades. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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