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
This will degrade local government responsiveness, and imperil local news coverage.
—
Matt Ehling, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025
When a strong solar flare occurs, the radio waves in the ionosphere may be degraded, causing a blackout in communication, according to NOAA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 May 2025
These components tend to not be degraded to the same extent that with normal mechanical recycling, meaning that they can then be used to produce new plastic, or—and here is where the controversy starts—can be used to make oil.
—Josiah Neeley, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
Plus, this rash guard’s fabric blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays, though keep in mind that frequent laundering will degrade the UV-blocking ability over time.5 In general, it’s recommended that UPF clothing be replaced after 40-50 washes.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Matt Ehling, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025
When a strong solar flare occurs, the radio waves in the ionosphere may be degraded, causing a blackout in communication, according to NOAA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 May 2025
These components tend to not be degraded to the same extent that with normal mechanical recycling, meaning that they can then be used to produce new plastic, or—and here is where the controversy starts—can be used to make oil.
—Josiah Neeley, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
Plus, this rash guard’s fabric blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays, though keep in mind that frequent laundering will degrade the UV-blocking ability over time.5 In general, it’s recommended that UPF clothing be replaced after 40-50 washes.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm: To reduce the chance of being struck by lightning, when venturing outside, have a plan to get to a safer area.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2025
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The website also says the industry has worked to reduce the use antimicrobials.—
John Bartlett,
NPR,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Fiscal Policy Without exception, the fiscal position of large countries, including the United States, as measured by government debt relative to GDP, deteriorated due to the impact of spending during the pandemic.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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But the age and condition of the fleet could deteriorate further, even with an infusion of cash to buy new equipment, because the wait times are so long.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Verb
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And after Trump’s attempts to humiliate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, the lure of the White House is waning.—
Stephen Collinson,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
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Simone Inzaghi really needs the win here — his Italian side finished one point behind Serie A champ Napoli and was humiliated by rival AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semifinal.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Rodgers was released in March and Hackett was demoted from playcalling duties amidst a 5-12 season.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
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Good as the Royals’ rotation is, ranking third in the majors in ERA, the team lacks depth at Triple A. By demoting Cameron, the Royals could keep him stretched out and ready for his next major-league opportunity.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Trump’s team is working furiously to keep the bill going on other fronts, too: seeking to discredit Congress’s nonpartisan scorekeeper while savaging Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., for resisting the bill and its debt ceiling increase.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
6 June 2025
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The White House has sought to discredit the CBO, but other groups have also presented estimates that conclude that the legislation would expand the U.S. government deficit by trillions of dollars.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Relative to previous presidents, Trump is much more willing to ignore the country’s interests and pursue goals that openly subvert them.—
Daniel Byman,
The Atlantic,
24 May 2025
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Both underscore how well this series, at its best, generates suspense from editing, while either subverting expectations or diabolically playing on common fears.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
19 May 2025
Verb
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The following program will contain graphic stupidity, as four friends compete to embarrass one another – only this time in Lithuania.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
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Races are sometimes won by runners making a move from the back of the pack, and L.A. could still find its stride, show some pride, and avoid embarrassing itself.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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