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
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
The modular design allows users to swap a single degraded battery without replacing the entire pack.
—New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2025
James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
Wallin points out that half of the world’s GDP, amounting to $44 trillion, is directly dependent on nature, yet the essential systems that support economic stability continue to be degraded.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Adjective
Before Aliens, the Hollywood genre sequel was considered a degraded form.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
The modular design allows users to swap a single degraded battery without replacing the entire pack.
—New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
With adversaries degraded, partners empowered, and diplomacy active, Washington can mold the fledgling regional order in ways that would have been unthinkable even a few years ago.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
Wallin points out that half of the world’s GDP, amounting to $44 trillion, is directly dependent on nature, yet the essential systems that support economic stability continue to be degraded.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degraded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degraded
Adjective
-
Which makes Shelley Joseph today’s poster gal for the corrupt double standards in the Massachusetts legal system.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Trump is running the most brazenly corrupt administration in modern history.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
While many areas are seeing visibility reduced to between one and three miles, patchy dense fog is reducing visibilities to as low as one quarter mile in spots.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Unable to turn back against the strong currents of the Napo, the party, now reduced to just 50, carried on downriver toward the Amazon.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At the time, Denver’s Landmark Preservation office told the Denver Gazette that the old neon was too deteriorated to restore.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The already-frosty relationship between Devers and the front office deteriorated to an irreparable level in May, when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 Dec. 2025
-
She was humiliated when her oldest son was forced to testify in a divorce case.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
This leaves a sicker risk pool behind and drives premiums even higher for those who remain.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Humans who have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with HPAI are the most at risk of becoming infected.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a post on X, Hegseth announced that Kelly was being demoted for a video from November.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
As an indication of how badly things went, consider that during the season the Dolphins fired their general manager (Chris Grier) and demoted their quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa).—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has thoroughly corrupted the Justice Department, but its selective prosecutions of his foes have been thwarted by judges and, more strikingly, by grand juries.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Murry corrupted and perverted and destroyed Katherine both as a person and a writer […] Her gifts were those of an intense realist, with a superb sense of ironic humour and fundamental cynicism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The admission of the Afrikaners was based on claims, which have been discredited, that white South African farmers were being killed in large numbers.—
Julia Ainsley,
NBC news,
25 Nov. 2025
-
Original studies suggesting a link were flawed and have been discredited.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
22 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degraded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degraded. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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