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
At the moment the fog descended, Texans were rising up against environmental degradation like never before.
—
Scott W. Stern, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2026
Distractions are a major culprit of this degradation of learning, Horvath previously told Fortune, adding that refocusing attention after it’s been diverted takes time to recover.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Chief among the concerns that needed to be addressed were moisture degradation within the original interior finishes, general leaks and the conservation of doors and windows.
—News Desk, Artforum, 10 Apr. 2026
Of course, this system’s liquid-cooled to make sure everything remains efficient, and battery degradation slows down.
—New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Scott W. Stern, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2026
Distractions are a major culprit of this degradation of learning, Horvath previously told Fortune, adding that refocusing attention after it’s been diverted takes time to recover.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Chief among the concerns that needed to be addressed were moisture degradation within the original interior finishes, general leaks and the conservation of doors and windows.
—News Desk, Artforum, 10 Apr. 2026
Of course, this system’s liquid-cooled to make sure everything remains efficient, and battery degradation slows down.
—New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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Still, any miscalculation or direct confrontation at sea could tip the diplomatic posturing into rapid deterioration and risk jeopardizing the fragile stability in the detente between Washington and Beijing.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Toss any berries showing signs of deterioration.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The causes of displacement are largely attributed to political conflict, corruption, violence and economic hardship, including widespread poverty.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But researchers who study fertility trends say the decline is driven by forces that have little to do with contraception access and that restricting it is unlikely to produce more births.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Cities and towns around the state with large immigrant populations have seen steep enrollment declines over the last year, says the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, as families have been deported or voluntarily returned to their home countries amidst heightened anxiety.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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Investors who are particularly concerned about currency debasement or geopolitical instability — both of which have driven gold's price run in recent years — may also find the physical gold component meaningful.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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