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

Her days are spent growing coral fragments in nurseries, cleaning restoration structures, managing coral predators and transplanting coral onto degraded reefs. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Faster delivery with degraded quality just accelerates technical debt and erodes user trust. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Old potting soil may not only potentially harbor pests and diseases that will impact the health of your plants, but soil from previous seasons can become a bit degraded and drain too fast or too slowly for your plant's needs. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026

Future autonomous systems will need to function inside exactly those kinds of degraded environments. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 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