degraded

adjective

de·​grad·​ed di-ˈgrā-dəd 

dē-

1

: reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct

2

: characterized by degeneration of structure or function

degradedly adverb

Synonyms of degraded

• corrupt
• sick

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 on the Web

After carefully selecting specimens with reliable dates and locations, the team extracted DNA using techniques designed for highly degraded historical samples. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Other reasons your toilet seat may be sliding are improper installation and degraded hardware. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026

Devastating fires across Canada have blown smoke deep into dense US population centers in recent weeks and degraded air quality. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026

Meet the chicken kidney sponge, a true ecosystem engineer that could use its filter-feeding power to clean the degraded habitats in and around busy harbors. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for degraded

• abraded
• arcaded
• blockaded
• brocaded
• cascaded
• dissuaded
• downgraded
• evaded
• hydatid
• invaded
• paraded
• persuaded