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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degradation
This increase does not reflect a degradation in measurement performance, but rather a more complete accounting of systematic limits.
—
Big Think, 6 May 2026
The concept of high-fidelity sound reproduction has been around since the 1930s and denotes a sound system with no distortion or degradation in quality.
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Among their concerns with the project, opponents worry the development will bring unsafe traffic congestion around the nearby elementary school and environmental degradation to the surrounding area.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Farmers around the world are at a critical tipping point, facing mounting challenges such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and increasingly unpredictable weather.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Big Think, 6 May 2026
The concept of high-fidelity sound reproduction has been around since the 1930s and denotes a sound system with no distortion or degradation in quality.
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Among their concerns with the project, opponents worry the development will bring unsafe traffic congestion around the nearby elementary school and environmental degradation to the surrounding area.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Farmers around the world are at a critical tipping point, facing mounting challenges such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and increasingly unpredictable weather.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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The aim wasn’t a knockout, but the gradual deterioration of San Antonio.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
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Mayor Gloria’s egregious record of reckless spending has contributed to the steady deterioration of our city’s fiscal and civic health.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
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In September 2024, López called on Fúnez to step down because of a corruption scandal.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Endemic corruption is one of the obstacles slowing Ukraine’s admission.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Noun
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An earlier study, published in the American Economic Journal, found that field-office closures led to a sixteen-per-cent decline in disability recipients in the surrounding areas.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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The clues are all in his writing, the structure of the sentence, the tracking of it, the fast decline into being inebriated.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The Phillies, off to an even worse start at 9-19, relieved Rob Thomson of his managerial duties Tuesday, and with Cora’s declination, named bench coach Don Mattingly interim skipper.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Dollar debasement Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity strategy at Barclays, expects the euro to extend recent gains against the dollar.—
Michael Considine,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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Bakri’s face is impassive and exhausted during this casual debasement, his voice low, and his tone deadpan, as though Salim has been forced to do all this a million times before.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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