1
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrade
The tactic, analysts say, is deliberate – part of a broader effort to wear down Taiwan’s air force, degrade equipment and exhaust Taiwan’s personnel.
—
Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Clouds, rain and even tree canopy overhead can further degrade the signal.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Pentagon said in a statement that the additional forces deployed to the Caribbean would enhance capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade transnational criminal organizations.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Paint will degrade over time in unregulated temperatures, especially as weather fluctuates for the seasons, and electronics will collect condensation in their circuit boards, internal pieces, and electrical equipment—all of which will cause warping and corrosion over time.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Clouds, rain and even tree canopy overhead can further degrade the signal.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Pentagon said in a statement that the additional forces deployed to the Caribbean would enhance capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade transnational criminal organizations.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Paint will degrade over time in unregulated temperatures, especially as weather fluctuates for the seasons, and electronics will collect condensation in their circuit boards, internal pieces, and electrical equipment—all of which will cause warping and corrosion over time.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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Tax rises would likely act as another damper on inflation by reducing consumer demand.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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Researchers also stressed that the synergistic effect of K+ and C3N4 co-intercalation lowers the energy barrier, reduces the electrostatic interaction, and enhances the kinetics and structural stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Residents should also remain alert to rapidly changing forecasts, as conditions may deteriorate quickly.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Grace appears dazed when others pick up on her ache, and takes a perverse pleasure in Jackson’s struggle to deal with her deteriorating mental health.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Strummer was humiliated by the whole album.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Heat’s next two games comes against a Cavaliers team that humiliated Miami out of the first round of the playoffs last season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sanders demoted offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to quarterbacks coach and stripped the former NFL head coach of play-calling duties.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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He is simply demoted in sexiness without fanfare.—
Choire Sicha,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Angels counsel has attempted to discredit these former employees, portraying them as bitter because of their dismissals from the club.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
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Some of these posts that claim to show theft as a result of no SNAP have been discredited, while others questioned for their authenticity.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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By subverting trust and building paranoia to screeching highs, The Thing exploits some of humanity's worst traits.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The directors spent over eight years tracking Shahverdi’s efforts to subvert economic systems and transform local attitudes.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Kardashian doesn’t embarrass herself, because her role doesn’t ask much of her to begin with.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
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Still, the former University of Miami standout did not want to be dealt, even publicly stating that just hours after the Dolphins’ embarrassing 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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