1
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank
the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrade
Clinician attrition therefore degrades the very system that is needed to contain the virus.
—
John Drake, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Long-range attacks Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on targets deep inside Russia in recent weeks, aiming to knock out oil refineries, depots and pipelines, as both sides seek to degrade each other’s infrastructure.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Proteins, which are made up of sequences of amino acids, are more robust than ancient DNA, a fragile molecule that degrades relatively easily.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
In another case, a witness described discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying beside the body of a woman holding them, in what the report described as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
John Drake, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Long-range attacks Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on targets deep inside Russia in recent weeks, aiming to knock out oil refineries, depots and pipelines, as both sides seek to degrade each other’s infrastructure.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Proteins, which are made up of sequences of amino acids, are more robust than ancient DNA, a fragile molecule that degrades relatively easily.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
In another case, a witness described discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying beside the body of a woman holding them, in what the report described as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
-
Eco effort The hotel employs single-stream recycling and green housekeeping practices, and also has a green roof ecosystem to reduce the building’s heat load.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
New research suggests these medications, best known for managing diabetes and driving weight loss, may also reduce the severity of one of the most common and underdiagnosed sleep disorders in the country.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Over the course of the next hour, the weather deteriorated rapidly.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
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The warning underscores the deteriorating situation in Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
In another case, a witness described discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying beside the body of a woman holding them, in what the report described as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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Those who don’t get the job leave diminished, sometimes humiliated, and the institution absorbs the damage quietly for years.—
Paul Hardart,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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City Manager Maraskeshia Smith had previously suggested either cutting or demoting 37 current city employees.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
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The UConn Club Running team, which is being demoted, had 120 members last fall.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The weakened 65-year-old cartel will remain with its five original members—Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela, as well as the Saudis and Kuwaitis—and six oil-producing African nations.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
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This can weaken and compromise your home’s structural integrity, which could lead to safety hazards and expensive repairs.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Do these circumstances discredit the Braves’ wins?—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
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What was unusual was the weaponization of the lack of forensic evidence to discredit the allegations.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The post-screening art projects are also a way to subvert some of the effects of artificial intelligence, which can too easily short-circuit the idea that one’s own imagination has the potential to be expansive and worthwhile.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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This harmless, doll-like look juxtaposed with the anger running through their punk discographies and unruly performances was meant to subvert the expectations of women as docile objects in the patriarchy.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
12 May 2026
Verb
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You’re locked in a cage with another human, that wants to beat the s*** out of you, embarrass you in front of millions of people.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The Sixers were embarrassed by the Knicks 144-114 in Game 4 in front of a New York-heavy crowd in South Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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