DEGRADES Synonyms: 174 Similar and Opposite Words

degrades

verb

present tense third-person singular of degrade

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

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as in deteriorates

to lower in character, dignity, or quality degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of degrades Optical systems are blazing fast but require a direct line of sight and fail in murky water or when the buildup of microorganisms degrades the lenses. —

Omar Kardoudi june 06, New Atlas, 6 June 2026 The only caveat is that ceramic-coated cookware, like Teflon, isn’t designed for high-heat and degrades over time. —

Ryan Brennan june 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 Open burning occurs both intentionally and unintentionally, the latter when open dump sites containing organic waste spontaneously combust due to heat generated as the waste degrades. —

Ellen M. Considine, The Conversation, 2 June 2026 Unlike conventional electronics that rely on plastics and heavy metals, the MEG degrades safely after use. —

Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026 It gets tested every year because the device degrades and conditions change. —

Barbara Wittmann, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 When the technology of representation degrades, the system as a whole begins to lose legitimacy. —

Danielle Allen, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 Proteins, which are made up of sequences of amino acids, are more robust than ancient DNA, a fragile molecule that degrades relatively easily. —

Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 14 May 2026 For people with diabetes, heat degrades temperature‑sensitive medications and makes blood sugar harder to control. —

Anthony Nicome, STAT, 13 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrades

Verb

The future demands a neutral, interoperable and intelligent global trade infrastructure that reduces friction, expands inclusion and restores trust across borders.

— Meelan Gupta, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Unplugging protects against power surges and reduces fire hazards.

— Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 11 June 2026