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
• shames
• demeans
• confuses
• debases
• humbles
• dishonors
• disgraces
• cheapens
• lowers
• diminishes
• rattles
• insults
• abases
• chastens
• criticizes
• takes down
• detracts
• minimizes
• ridicules
• sinks
• belittles
• disparages
• fouls
• depreciates
• mortifies
• smirches
• confounds
• disconcerts
• maligns
• decries
• defames
• condemns
• discomfits
• defiles
• 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 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

This outcome-fixation registers in the brain as a threat, triggering a subtle fight-or-flight state that degrades executive presence. — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and a key regulator of global climate, so anything that degrades it could accelerate global warming, researchers say. — Gabriela Sa Pessoa, Fortune, 24 July 2026

Then there is the everyday crime that degrades urban quality of life. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

Landscape fabric suffocates microorganisms, blocks nutrients, and degrades into microplastics. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026

This unwanted chemical warfare degrades the materials from the inside out, severely hurting performance and shortening the battery’s lifespan. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026

But when sports leagues add games, the experience for fans degrades in a way that doesn’t always show up in the dollars and cents. — Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Apple, Bose, and Sony all seal their batteries, which means that once the cell degrades, the product's practical lifespan is on a timer. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026