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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Silicon’s performance degrades badly at high temperatures.
—
Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Many ethicists focus on preventing worst-case AI scenarios, such as rogue models and mass unemployment, while ignoring deeper questions about how the technology might degrade our humanity or undermine our sense of purpose.
—Elias Wachtel, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2026
Even small surges, repeated over time, can slowly degrade appliances.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
The objective is to degrade the operational capacity of gangs to a level that Haitian institutions can sustainably manage, creating the time and space for the state to reassert its authority.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Many ethicists focus on preventing worst-case AI scenarios, such as rogue models and mass unemployment, while ignoring deeper questions about how the technology might degrade our humanity or undermine our sense of purpose.
—Elias Wachtel, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2026
Even small surges, repeated over time, can slowly degrade appliances.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
The objective is to degrade the operational capacity of gangs to a level that Haitian institutions can sustainably manage, creating the time and space for the state to reassert its authority.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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Connecticut’s Climate Progress report, required every three years by the state legislature, shows how Connecticut is continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
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Companies are taking steps to reduce their plastic consumption, according to Melissa Bastos, Cotton Incorporated director of corporate strategy and insights.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the consequences of a destabilized Mali, compounded by the wider fallout from the Iran war, are unlikely to stop at its borders and threatens to deepen a deteriorating security crisis across one of the world’s most volatile regions.—
Ulf Laessing,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were livestreamed across the globe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One such accusation resulted in a federal lawsuit filed in September in which the former head of the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind alleged DHS management humiliated and discriminated against him before forcing him out of his job.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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According to the suit, she was humiliated by fellow staff members and belittled due to her race, country of origin, religion and immigration status.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Soon after, leadership demoted Moers from his director position.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
As far as Williams, the Mets aren’t considering demoting him.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The deeper the rifts between the United States and Europe over Iran, the greater the chances of weakening the NATO alliance.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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During his appearances on Capitol Hill this month, Secretary Kennendy was grilled about the administration's defense of the pesticide industry and weakening of protections against mercury pollution, another issue that Kennedy had worked on as an advocate.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Robert Brulle, a visiting professor at Brown University who studies fossil fuel lobbying, said ExxonMobil led efforts to discredit climate science that successfully impeded government intervention.—
Alex Kuffner,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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New science and forensics have since discredited the expert’s conclusion, prompting Gurley to throw out the convictions and order a new trial.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rocha Moya and others named have denied the charges, calling them an attempt to subvert Mexico’s sovereignty.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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This is part of a continuous Republican effort to gut the Voting Rights Act, dilute Black representation, and subvert the will of the people.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That this series has flipped on its head seemed almost impossible last Sunday, when the Celtics embarrassed Philadelphia in a Game 4 win on the Sixers’ home floor.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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The Mets were embarrassed by the Washington Nationals in an 14-2 blowout to even up the series at one game apiece.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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