1
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about
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2
as in corruption
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
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Recent Examples of degradation
Worldwide, the animals and their eggs face the threat of poaching, accidental catching by fishermen and habitat degradation as a result of climate change, pollution and other factors.
—
Alana Wise, NPR, 6 June 2025
The same goes for Brenda Blethyn, so effortlessly affecting as a wife and mother reduced to becoming a client to the welfare state, a degradation that Colleen just can’t begin to tolerate.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 June 2025
Hailstones can also cause punctures, tears, fractures, bruises and the more common displacement of granules, which can expose asphalt shingles to the sun’s rays and ultraviolet degradation.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
These interactions take place in coastal communities, which are susceptible to degradation over time because of rising sea levels and other environmental conditions.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Alana Wise, NPR, 6 June 2025
The same goes for Brenda Blethyn, so effortlessly affecting as a wife and mother reduced to becoming a client to the welfare state, a degradation that Colleen just can’t begin to tolerate.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 June 2025
Hailstones can also cause punctures, tears, fractures, bruises and the more common displacement of granules, which can expose asphalt shingles to the sun’s rays and ultraviolet degradation.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
These interactions take place in coastal communities, which are susceptible to degradation over time because of rising sea levels and other environmental conditions.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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Respondents perceive a significant reduction in the probability of a severe deterioration in economic prospects.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
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Rossetti had been working on the CONCERN Study, which had successfully developed an AI model to detect patient deterioration in the hospital setting.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Maybe the game doesn’t die in corruption but in the apathy of those who stop caring.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
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Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office claims that corruption tied to these export permits cost the state 12.3 trillion rupiah ($755 million).—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Some of the nation’s leading tourist destinations, including Orlando, Miami and Los Angeles, are bracing for how the decline will impact businesses that rely on spending from international travelers.—
Jason Carroll,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
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Russell Reynolds' Global CEO Turnover Index reports that the average CEO tenure dropped from 8.1 years in Q1 2024 to 6.8 years in Q1 2025, marking the sharpest decline in recent years.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Where corporate criminal investigations resolve without filing any criminal charges (through a declination or deferred prosecution agreement), companies should expect victims to still voice their views loudly to the Justice Department and beyond.—
Lisa Zornberg,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.
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