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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degradation
All those cars and trucks contribute to more wear and tear on Texas roadways, which could result in degradation without consistent maintenance and a little foresight in terms of designing more resilient roads.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
Navarro presented these sins—including currency manipulation, intellectual-property theft, and environmental degradation—as significant drivers of China’s extraordinary economic transformation.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Everything has been tested for quality over time, along with durability post-laundering to note any pilling or degradation over time.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 Dec. 2025
But the energy density, costs, degradation, and funding complications have challenged the developers of those alternatives.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
Navarro presented these sins—including currency manipulation, intellectual-property theft, and environmental degradation—as significant drivers of China’s extraordinary economic transformation.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Everything has been tested for quality over time, along with durability post-laundering to note any pilling or degradation over time.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 Dec. 2025
But the energy density, costs, degradation, and funding complications have challenged the developers of those alternatives.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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With the deterioration and rise of crime in South Beach in the late 1970s, as well as inflation and the shrinking tourist business, the Famous was forced to close in 1981.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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While analysts do not expect the rift to escalate into direct conflict, even a limited deterioration could carry far-reaching consequences.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Conditions were only made worse by recent military defeats, crippling sanctions, corruption, and an unparalleled water crisis.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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The improvement at Eskom, which provides 80% of the country’s power generation, comes after years of mismanagement, corruption scandals, and bailouts for ongoing debt problems.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Wholesale market prices for milk, cheese and butter have been lower than normal for about a year, but had more of a significant decline in the past six months, Cain said.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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Today, similar prudence animates concerns about NATO and broader trans-Atlantic ties in an era when Europe has undergone profound transformations through mass migration, supranational governance, demographic decline, and shifting cultural priorities.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nachmanoff pressed the Justice Department over whether a formal declination memo deciding against charges for Comey exists.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
19 Nov. 2025
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McLaughlin characterized the Fullerton officer’s response as a declination to help.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Oc Register,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In that corner of the market, the debasement trade endured — less as a sweeping judgment on fiat, more as a focused bet on rates, policy and protection.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
29 Dec. 2025
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Investor demand has also been underpinned by debasement trade, as concerns over swelling debt loads drive a retreat from sovereign bonds and the currencies they are issued in.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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