as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reduced
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorated
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 humiliated
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degraded
Alexander Larman, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
Two meetings will be hosted this month for public input on a proposal to restore a degraded estuary in South Laguna at Aliso Creek.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
At 40, he was tasked with restoring order to a dysfunctional Philadelphia Eagles team whose culture degraded during a chaotic 2020 season.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Adjective
From the outset, Bowie presented himself less as that degraded breed—a rock star—and more as a cultural all-rounder.
—Alexander Larman, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
Two meetings will be hosted this month for public input on a proposal to restore a degraded estuary in South Laguna at Aliso Creek.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
The Iraqi Republican Guard—one of Saddam Hussein’s key centers of gravity—was systematically isolated and degraded from the air.
—David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
At 40, he was tasked with restoring order to a dysfunctional Philadelphia Eagles team whose culture degraded during a chaotic 2020 season.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degraded
Adjective
-
Rooting out corrupt generals and criminal networks could take months, or even years.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Certainly, part of the way to improve Venezuela and to improve the Western Hemisphere and improve the lives of Americans is to get their very corrupt 25 years in decline, oil industry back going again.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In all, the fees were reduced by about $620,000 through automatic waivers and other savings, said Andrea Osgood, Eden Housing’s chief of real estate development.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This population has been reduced by vehicle strikes and by animals sustaining rodenticide poisoning over the past decades.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Eventually, her health deteriorated to the point that Ingram left the team to see her back home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Since she was detained, Kordia’s faith has grown immensely, but her physical health has deteriorated, her cousin said.—
Rachel Royster
January 30,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
My interrogator beat me, humiliated me, and repeatedly threatened to arrest my family and friends.—
Omid Memarian,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The rest of us will sit here with Belichick, sick to our stomachs.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Now, the fear is getting sick or stuck far from home.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino - who led confrontational sweeps in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities - was demoted and will soon retire, Reuters reported.—
Kristina Cooke,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Wow, Huckleberry demoted to Fuckleberry.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tracy Anderson believes most people today have had their attention spans hijacked by social media and their perception of beauty corrupted by trends.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
His mind is warped, his sense of morality corrupted.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And suddenly, along came Franklin Roosevelt, along came the Depression, along came World War II, and they were just discredited.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Blamed and discredited, the legendary warriors disband and go into hiding.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degraded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degraded. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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