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
The issue has intensified in recent years and is only set to get worse, as the relentless expansion of urban centres brings artificial light further into the countryside, permeating and degrading our view of the heavens.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
These combined factors are degrading the city’s healthcare system.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Plus, exposing its high fatty acid content to heat will degrade its nutritional value and taste.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
Finally, pollution from ports along with potential spills can degrade the health of these animals and weaken their immune systems.
—Rodrigo Tardin, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
These combined factors are degrading the city’s healthcare system.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Plus, exposing its high fatty acid content to heat will degrade its nutritional value and taste.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
Finally, pollution from ports along with potential spills can degrade the health of these animals and weaken their immune systems.
—Rodrigo Tardin, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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This comes at a time when there has been talk of reducing the number of PGA tournaments on the calendar.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The cross-border clearing platform could streamline operations, reducing risks in OTC trades that dominate the market.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Because of deteriorating conditions, operations were transitioned to a defensive strategy, Marceau said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Working conditions, meanwhile, have continued to deteriorate as the demands on workers increase.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Days after the segment was recorded, Schmitz shot Amedure to death, then confessed to the murder, saying he'd been humiliated on national TV.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
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During the flight, she’s thoroughly humiliated when someone finds her audition tape for Survivor and displays it on his laptop for all to enjoy.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Internal divisions in the DA have widened since late last year, when Steenhuisen demoted Dion George, the party’s then environment minister, in a cabinet reshuffle.—
Sam Mkokeli,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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When her performance declined and she was demoted, Gallarzo began looking for another job.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In overwhelmingly Democratic districts, the outcome is almost always predetermined, further depressing turnout and weakening accountability.—
Grace Rauh,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Healthy Rivers and Landscapes’ flexibility represents potentially weakened enforceable safeguards for environmental and tribal groups, as the program relies on voluntary commitments instead of mandatory flow standards.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Supporters of Pahlavi were particularly vocal in Mashhad this month, as attested by the prevalence of pro-monarchy graffiti on city walls, and the regime’s propaganda devoted particular attention to discrediting the former crown prince.—
Davood Moradian,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Mayers said one lawful action should not be used to discredit another lawful action.—
Steve Karnowski,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet, because of the loophole in the Citizens United ruling, foreign investors can now subvert that federal law through multinational corporations.—
Michael Gianaris,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Gourault often subverts the extractivist logic of new media technologies and employs open-source investigation in the production of his films.—
Farren Fei Yuan,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The assignment is to sit there and talk about it in public and possibly embarrass yourself by getting into a verbal confrontation in front of a restaurant of otherwise uninterested bystanders.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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Recently, Ryan spoke about the Beckham situation, the process of writing material as a mother without embarrassing her kids and her new goal of returning to the career trajectory of her pre-pregnant self in the near future.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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