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
In the meantime, the concern is that disregarding long-standing security protocols degrades their significance and endangers those they are meant to protect.
—
Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
That way, when a protein degrades and needs to be replaced, the other remains in place.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025
Nine schools across the city were found to have degrading, chipping interiors.
—Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 7 May 2025
Carey criticized laissez-faire economics for degrading the British working class.
— Made By History, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
That way, when a protein degrades and needs to be replaced, the other remains in place.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025
Nine schools across the city were found to have degrading, chipping interiors.
—Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 7 May 2025
Carey criticized laissez-faire economics for degrading the British working class.
— Made By History, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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An estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by at least 7.6 million from the Medicaid changes, and possibly more with other changes to the Affordable Care Act.—
Kevin Freking,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
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In Sacramento, California, the weather service warned its office would have reduced staffing overnight.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Their mental health deteriorated, which reinforced the officer’s excuse to keep them deadlocked.—
Justyna Rzewinski,
New York Daily News,
21 May 2025
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While more durable than the original Irish linen that encased the wings when the KC Eaglet rolled out of the factory on Aug. 12, 1930, all fabrics will deteriorate over time from exposure to the sun.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The writer-director’s smartest move is never to deny Colin his dignity, even when he’s humiliated for disappointing Ray or getting vigorously plowed on a table.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
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But who among us has not had a little marital spat over one person buying an entire hospital just to humiliate the other?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Last month, Dhillon demoted senior attorneys who handled police abuse investigations to other low-level assignments, such as handling public records requests or adjudicating internal discrimination complaints.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Blackburn Rovers’ women’s team have been demoted from Women’s Super League 2 after the club decided against putting up the necessary funding for facilities, player welfare and staffing.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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In Colorado, for example, several AI companies recently lobbied to delay and weaken the state’s landmark AI accountability legislation — a preview of what unchecked industry influence could look like under a regulatory freeze.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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Their backing from the youngest voters weakened in 2024 (Catalist).—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The attempts to discredit women like Ventura discount the reality of their lives, Gee said.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
13 May 2025
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But in a possible attempt to discredit Pryor, her name and some details of her confidential complaint, available only to the mayor, commissioners and senior city employees, have been circulated publicly.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
10 May 2025
Verb
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This opens the door to whole new fields of enterprise, ethical and criminal, involving influencing the actions of—or simply subverting—AI agents.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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The Incoherent Case for Tariffs Trump’s fixation on economic coercion will subvert his economic goals.—
Antony J. Blinken,
Foreign Affairs,
6 May 2025
Verb
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Johnson’s predecessor, Larry Robinson, resigned last year amid fallout from a fake $237 million donation scandal that embarrassed the school on the national stage.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
17 May 2025
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What’s made the 18th so fun this week is its ability — even for just a second — to embarrass the best golfers on the planet.—
Jordan Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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