degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən 
1
: the act or process of degrading
environmental degradation
the gradual degradation of organic matter
… nothing infuriates the female students more than the degradation of women that is associated with male sports …—
Scott Stossel
Scott Stosselsuffer the degradations of poverty and abuse
2
a
: decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state
shocked by the hopeless degradation of the "poor whites"—Edith Wharton
Edith WhartonSome houses are found spotless, others in a wretched degradation …—Paul Reyes
Paul Reyes
b
: moral or intellectual decadence : degeneration
educated him in the bestiality and degradation that war brings—Drew Middleton
Drew Middleton
Synonyms
Examples of degradation in a Sentence
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about.
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
Recent Examples on the Web
Along the route, repeaters are installed at intervals to amplify the optical signal and ensure data can travel long distances without degradation.
—Robin Chataut, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
In 2014, Richmond's then-mayor, Gayle McLaughlin, traveled to see Ecuador's environmental degradation at a time when her party was seeking to force Chevron to pay more to the city.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
The mountain canopies provide cool, forested areas for wildlife and are considered critical stepping stones for species to migrate in response to climate change and habitat degradation.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
Sentinel oysters and other bivalve mollusks are now monitoring ocean water quality and environmental degradation in multiple locations around the globe.
—John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Most rechargeable flashlights use Lithium Ion batteries, and studies have shown that overcharging can cause degradation to the battery.
—Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2024
But the world’s highest peak has a poop problem, driven by the number of visitors, and the harsh conditions on the mountain, which interfere with the degradation process.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Xie studies consumer acceptance and knowledge of V2G systems and has learned from EV owners that battery degradation is a major concern for them.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
As a cultural project, Oppenheimer is timed to coincide with the New York Times’ demoralizing 1619 Project — a continuation of the anti-American degradation that Nolan honed in his Dark Knight trilogy.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
Robin Chataut, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
In 2014, Richmond's then-mayor, Gayle McLaughlin, traveled to see Ecuador's environmental degradation at a time when her party was seeking to force Chevron to pay more to the city.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
The mountain canopies provide cool, forested areas for wildlife and are considered critical stepping stones for species to migrate in response to climate change and habitat degradation.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
Sentinel oysters and other bivalve mollusks are now monitoring ocean water quality and environmental degradation in multiple locations around the globe.
—John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Most rechargeable flashlights use Lithium Ion batteries, and studies have shown that overcharging can cause degradation to the battery.
—Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2024
But the world’s highest peak has a poop problem, driven by the number of visitors, and the harsh conditions on the mountain, which interfere with the degradation process.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Xie studies consumer acceptance and knowledge of V2G systems and has learned from EV owners that battery degradation is a major concern for them.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
As a cultural project, Oppenheimer is timed to coincide with the New York Times’ demoralizing 1619 Project — a continuation of the anti-American degradation that Nolan honed in his Dark Knight trilogy.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'degradation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near degradation
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degradation. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
1
a
: a reduction in rank, dignity, or standing
b
: removal from office
2
: loss of honor or reputation
Medical Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
: change of a chemical compound to a less complex compound
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