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
Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Service remained degraded more than seven hours after Microsoft acknowledged the error messages.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026
Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Adjective
Bamberger, often regarded as a maverick, proved that degraded land could be revived.
—Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Service remained degraded more than seven hours after Microsoft acknowledged the error messages.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
The upper-end medical alert products employ GPS augmented cellular triangulation and Wi-Fi positioning to sustain location accuracy even in environments where the GPS signal is degraded or lost.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degraded
Adjective
-
The corrupt a-s psychopath prosecutors’ office.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The film stars Jake Busey (Stranger Things) as Dirk, a corrupt cop who partners with an eager, broke assistant named Jeff Klima, played by Felix Merback (Blood Star).—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As Russia reduced flows, prices spiked, pushing up energy bills and helping fuel a cost of living crisis.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Ultimately, the report states, about 1% of the district’s more than 83,000 employees are likely to lose a job or have their pay reduced.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors argue that Colin Gray was aware that his son's mental health had deteriorated in the weeks before the shooting, but still gave the teen the assault-style weapon as a Christmas gift and purchased a laser sight, tactical vest, and ammunition for him.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the brands’ sales have deteriorated further since the split was announced, making a spinoff less appealing to investors.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Still, Friday ranked as one of the most unexpected breakdowns in international sports since Germany humiliated host Brazil, 7-1, at the 2014 soccer World Cup.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Be ashamed and humiliated and would have apologized.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Olsky's mother, under 70 pounds and nine months pregnant, was put in the sick car on the train, surrounded by sick and dying women.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Edgar finds them together, gets angry and Cathy gets even sicker.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gingles had been nearly demoted at his job, the co-worker said, due to taking too much time off because of his pending divorce.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Bovino was demoted last month, two days after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan 24.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But, if the release of the Epstein files has accomplished anything, it’s been to demonstrate how, on both sides of the Atlantic, systems corrupted by money are ripe for reform.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
-
American culture will not be mocked or corrupted without consequence.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
All four men were subjected to police interrogation techniques that are now widely discredited for leading to false confessions.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Degraded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degraded. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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