Synonyms of degrades

degrades

verb

present tense third-person singular of degrade

1

as in reduces

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

• reduces
• demotes
• dismisses
• downgrades
• breaks
• busts
• demeans
• debases
• disrates
• sacks
• humiliates
• downsizes
• lowers
• fires
• lays off
• cans
• humbles
• abases
• cashiers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• promotes
• advances
• raises
• elevates
• hires

2

as in deteriorates

to lower in character, dignity, or quality

degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorates
• weakens
• corrupts
• humiliates
• subverts
• dilutes
• demeans
• destroys
• debases
• lessens
• poisons
• pollutes
• debauches
• cheapens
• damages
• vitiates
• perverts
• abases
• demoralizes
• disgraces
• taints
• prostitutes
• impairs
• depraves
• warps
• shames
• ruins
• mars
• bastardizes
• contaminates
• profanes
• hurts
• thins
• humbles
• harms
• dishonors
• dirties
• tarnishes
• defiles
• cankers
• wrecks
• flaws
• spoils
• waters down
• descends
• depreciates
• defaces
• befouls
• stains
• begrimes
• takes down
• downgrades
• blemishes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improves
• elevates
• ennobles
• uplifts
• enhances
• exalts
• enriches
• dignifies
• honors
• restores
• ameliorates
• perfects
• refines
• cleans
• amends
• clarifies
• purifies
• betters
• respects
• cleanses
• meliorates

3

as in humiliates

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

• humiliates
• discredits
• embarrasses
• demeans
• shames
• debases
• confuses
• humbles
• dishonors
• disgraces
• cheapens
• lowers
• diminishes
• abases
• rattles
• insults
• chastens
• criticizes
• takes down
• detracts
• minimizes
• ridicules
• sinks
• belittles
• disparages
• fouls
• depreciates
• mortifies
• smirches
• confounds
• disconcerts
• maligns
• decries
• defames
• discomfits
• defiles
• condemns
• flusters
• castigates
• slanders
• discountenances
• fazes
• denounces
• discounts
• affronts
• libels
• writes off
• abashes
• damns
• nonpluses
• cries down
• bad-mouths
• puts down
• censures
• execrates
• reprehends
• reprobates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elevates
• exalts
• cites
• recognizes
• celebrates
• aggrandizes
• deifies
• commends
• boasts
• acknowledges
• decorates
• extols
• applauds
• hails
• praises
• lauds
• salutes
• canonizes
• congratulates
• honors
• cheers
• touts
• eulogizes
• compliments
• acclaims
• highlights
• promotes
• ennobles
• magnifies
• fetes
• dignifies
• glorifies
• enshrines
• advances
• spotlights
• boosts
• raises
• lifts
• uplifts
• enthrones
• plays up
• idealizes
• upgrades
• romanticizes
• enskies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of degrades

The material’s resistance to high heat and moisture maintains full operational stability where pure MXene typically degrades. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Rich Handel, resident laundry expert at Consumer Reports, warns that mixing heavy fabrics like denim with delicate garments increases friction and degrades the softer material. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

When a critical resource of a larger system is categorized as interchangeable, the company triggers savings logic that, in pursuit of lower prices, degrades quality. — Mindaugas Čaplinskas, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Annual cultivation — the plow, plant, harvest and repeat cycle — strains soil formation, which takes thousands of years and rapidly degrades the farmland. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

The team also did impedance measurements to find out how fast the protection degrades. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

As more fertile land degrades into dry, barren desert, the meeting is workshopping climate solutions using its key anti-desertification treaty, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026

The new 6+ model instantly stands out for featuring a removable, 4415 mAh battery, meaning a buyer can easily replace it once the battery degrades in a few years. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 Aug. 2026

The signal degrades at every step along this journey, and the guessers have to do their best with some pretty warped data. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 July 2026