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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Some of it is also related to the age and deterioration of much of the grid, which now requires rebuilding.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The deterioration in the labor market has been concentrated in payroll employment, which is the [datapoint] that is the most susceptible to demographic and immigration changes.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Steeped in a culture of corruption, those who would take over from Maduro would continue to prioritize enriching themselves.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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Though Cheney was not personally named in litigation, Halliburton settled a Nigerian corruption complaint for $250 million.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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However, the league is looking to its next steps to after the 2025 season saw a 5% decline in game attendance, according to Sports Business Journal.—
Jessica Golden,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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But their party went into swift decline during the Cold War that began in the late 1940s and barely exists today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 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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Higgins also debunked the debasement trade hypothesis.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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