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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degradation
Each clothing sample was subjected to various forms of physical and environmental degradation such as washing, aging and staining to determine how easily compounds could leach from fabrics onto the skin of the wearer.
—
Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
In her article, Jane reminds us that meat consumption is responsible for animal suffering and environmental degradation.
—Lisa Wade, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Overall, the most prevalent cause of bird population declines is habitat loss and degradation, driven especially by agricultural expansion and intensification and logging, the IUCN said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Because the human body doesn’t recognize them as readily, mirror molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids resist degradation and are more stable there — useful traits for potential therapeutic drugs.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
In her article, Jane reminds us that meat consumption is responsible for animal suffering and environmental degradation.
—Lisa Wade, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Overall, the most prevalent cause of bird population declines is habitat loss and degradation, driven especially by agricultural expansion and intensification and logging, the IUCN said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Because the human body doesn’t recognize them as readily, mirror molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids resist degradation and are more stable there — useful traits for potential therapeutic drugs.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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The sharp deterioration in air quality this week comes following celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which traditionally involves the widespread use of firecrackers which release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides into the air, as well as harmful heavy metals.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t to say writer and director Mary Bronstein’s film, about the agonizing deterioration of a woman whose life is falling down around her in near-apocalyptic fashion, isn’t worth watching.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Now its economy has collapsed under the weight of corruption, mismanagement, human rights violations and other woes.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
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That’s what happened in October 2019, when demonstrations against corruption and high unemployment broke out across Iraq, leading to street clashes that left hundreds of people dead.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Since 1928, significant market declines of at least 5% have happened in 92 out of 98 years.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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One of the most popular college majors is seeing a significant decline in graduates, according to a new report from AEI.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Presenting their findings in a lengthy declination memo, the prosecutors explicitly mentioned the two other investigations to bolster their recommendation that probable cause does not exist to charge Comey, according to sources familiar with the contents of the memo.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
6 Oct. 2025
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On those three dates, variations in the moon's position relative to Earth's equator — particularly its declination — can influence tidal forces that subtly affect Earth's rotation rate.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The immediate goal of this concerted information operation is the debasement of American Jews, but the more politically salient goal is the gaslighting of American evangelical Christians—the very core of the MAGA base, and an overwhelmingly pro-Jewish, pro-Israel constituency at that.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Bitcoin joined gold in the debasement trade as a digital alternative to traditional currencies.—
Krysta Escobar,Jill Schneider,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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