degraded

adjective de·grad·ed \ -ˈgrā-dəd \

Definition of degraded

1 :reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct

2 :characterized by degeneration of structure or function

—

degradedly

adverb

Examples of degraded in a Sentence

many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration

Recent Examples of degraded from the Web

His company dredged 1.32 million cubic yards of sediment from the Mississippi River and piled it into the degraded marsh at Jesuit Bend.

— sara sneath, NOLA.com, "He tried to restore wetlands and to make a profit; he achieved one," 14 July 2017
Certainly, this past season was a disaster even by the Knicks’ degraded standards.

— nathaniel friedman, GQ, "What Firing Phil Jackson Means for the Knicks," 28 June 2017
The aquifer faces threats of degraded water quality and reduced water quantity.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Auburn part of $5 million grant to address regional water issues," 27 June 2017
These new episodes are still homage-heavy, especially the opening scene, with its degraded film stock and nods to a grind-house/Hal Needham aesthetic.

— daniel fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Preacher' Season 2: TV Review," 23 June 2017
Thousands who gave the last full measure of the devotion, to borrow the words of President Abraham Lincoln, had found themselves in a degraded final resting place at Poplar Grove.

— phil gast, CNN, "Grave injustice: Park restores dignity to fallen Americans," 27 May 2017
Take the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, under which the EPA seeks to work with the states and Canada to restore degraded lakeshore areas.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Trump doesn't budge on EPA budget," 23 May 2017
The report calls for restoring many degraded Sierra meadows to act as sponges to store cold water that would trickle into streams in summer and fall when fish struggle to find enough.

— denis cuff, The Mercury News, "California salmon facing extinction, report warns," 16 May 2017
In all, the district has 474,000 square feet of degraded lead paint inside its schools -- enough to cover all floors of Powell's City of Books, which takes up an entire city block, seven times.

— bethany barnes | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Where the lead lurks: Dangerous paint more pervasive in some Portland schools," 12 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'degraded.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of degraded

1643

degraded Synonyms

Synonyms

debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, corrupt, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell (or rakehelly), rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped

Antonyms

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted

Related Words

bent [chiefly British], crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; contaminated, spoiled, tainted; bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked

Near Antonyms

incorruptible; ethical, honest, principled; good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Learn More about degraded

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for degraded Nglish: Translation of degraded for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of degraded for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up degraded? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

degraded

Definition of degraded

degradedly

Examples of degraded in a Sentence

Recent Examples of degraded from the Web

First Known Use of degraded

degraded Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Learn More about degraded

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

knee-jerk

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

I'll Have the Us(ual)

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

The History of the Word 'Terrorism'

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

The Exceptions Quiz III

Forms of Government Quiz

Spell It

Citation

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066

degraded

Definition of degraded

degradedly

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of degraded in a Sentence

Recent Examples of degraded from the Web

First Known Use of degraded

degraded Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Learn More about degraded

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066