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
And an extensive set of military actions waged over several years in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria had already severely degraded Iran’s regional proxies, blunting Tehran’s ability to retaliate.
—
David A. Deptula, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2025
Smoke from the blazes has degraded air quality across Ontario, Quebec, and parts of the northeastern United States.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
The fossil record on Sulawesi is sparse, and ancient DNA degrades more rapidly in the region’s tropical climate.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
In this process, smectite clay was degraded, releasing lithium that would then also form jadarite.
—New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
David A. Deptula, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2025
Smoke from the blazes has degraded air quality across Ontario, Quebec, and parts of the northeastern United States.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
The fossil record on Sulawesi is sparse, and ancient DNA degrades more rapidly in the region’s tropical climate.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
In this process, smectite clay was degraded, releasing lithium that would then also form jadarite.
—New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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The Work Ethic Camp was opened in 2001 and initially designed to reduce prison overcrowding, according to a Nebraska legislative report, providing the incarcerated with life skills training, substance abuse treatment and work experience.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Speakers and community members offered possible solutions to reduce youth violence and pleaded for the crowd to share any information about the Aug. 13 shooting.—
Keely Doll,
The Courier-Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But this week, the situation in Donetsk has rapidly deteriorated, with Russian forces making important advances to the north east of Dobropilia, altering control of the area Witkoff has been discussing with the Kremlin.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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But after the Sriracha-maker callously withheld payments from Underwood, the relationship deteriorated and litigation followed.—
Kate Vitasek,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Plato fled Syracuse, humiliated by the tyrants’ taunts.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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Critics, including Lithuania's former foreign minister, warned the episode reflects Moscow's intent to provoke and humiliate its adversaries on the global stage.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If/when Hankins returns, Seattle will probably demote Bohanna and re-sign him to the practice squad.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
24 Aug. 2025
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This season he will likely be demoted to the practice squad.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But Goolsbee said Trump’s immigration crackdown likely has affected population growth and the jobs numbers, but that doesn’t mean the labor market has substantially weakened.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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For Trump, whose political brand has long relied on projecting authenticity to his base, a sustained decline in honesty ratings could weaken his ability to roll out his agenda.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the Newsom administration has tried to discredit that estimate since the independent auditor published the report last week.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Right-wing Channel 14 has devoted coverage in recent weeks to discrediting some reports of starving children.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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My favorite thing about playing her is subverting that expectation over the course of her journey in the show, as sort of my emotional catharsis.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
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China has been able to subvert existing channels to obtain restricted chips anyway.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Yanks finally reached the World Series last season for the first time since 2009, only to be embarrassed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in more ways than one.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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That’s how the Detroit Lions’ social media team did Jack Jones last Thursday, embarrassing the Miami Dolphins cornerback while showing how dominant Amon-Ra St. Brown was during both team’s first of two joint practices.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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