degrade

verb

de·​grade di-ˈgrād How to pronounce degrade (audio)
dē-
degraded; degrading; degrades

transitive verb

1
a
: to lower in grade, rank, or status : demote
b
: to strip of rank or honors
c
: to lower to an inferior or less effective level
degrade the image quality
d
: to scale down in desirability or salability
2
a
: to bring to low esteem or into disrepute
Their actions have degraded their profession.
comments intended to humiliate and degrade others
b
: to drag down in moral or intellectual character : corrupt
… impelled, by misfortune and misery, to the vice that has degraded them.Charles Dickens
3
: to impair in respect to some physical property
material degraded by exposure to sunlight
4
geology : to wear down by erosion
degraded the hillside
5
chemistry : to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) : decompose

intransitive verb

1
: to pass from a higher grade or class to a lower
causes the meat to degrade in quality
2
of a chemical compound : to become reduced in complexity
plastics that don't easily degrade
degrader noun

Did you know?

In Shakespeare's King Lear, the old king is degraded by the daughters he has given his kingdom to. He finds it degrading, for instance, when the number of his guards is reduced from 100 to 25. His degradation seems complete when, after going mad, he's reduced to living in the wilderness. As you can see, degrade is often a synonym for humiliate.

Examples of degrade in a Sentence

The group accuses the company of degrading women in its ads. He felt degraded by their remarks. Scratches on a camera lens will degrade the image. Pollution has degraded air quality.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Anything infused with essential oils will have a shorter shelf life; these candles tend to degrade after about two years. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2024 That microgravity explains why vision tends to degrade over time, and being in space could result in cognitive declines long-term. Katie Hunt, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024 And today, the United States is imposing significant new sanctions on over 50 financial institutions to further degrade Russia's ability to use the international financial system to fund and prosecute its brutal war against the people of Ukraine. Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 According to the World Wildlife Fund, 17% of its forests had been entirely lost as of 2022, while another 17% had been degraded. Peter Guo, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for degrade 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French degrader, from Late Latin degradare, from Latin de- + gradus step, grade — more at grade entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of degrade was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near degrade

Cite this Entry

“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degrade. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

degrade

verb
de·​grade di-ˈgrād How to pronounce degrade (audio)
1
: to reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree : deprive of an office or position
2
: to lower the character of : debase
3
: to reduce the complexity of a chemical compound : decompose
degradable
-ˈgrād-ə-bəl
adjective
degrader noun

Medical Definition

degrade

transitive verb
de·​grade di-ˈgrād How to pronounce degrade (audio)
degraded; degrading
: to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) by splitting off one or more groups or larger components : decompose
cellulose is degraded by the action of some bacteria

intransitive verb

: to undergo chemical degradation

More from Merriam-Webster on degrade

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