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

Because the watermark degrades with more thorough editing or in shorter samples of text, its usefulness may also be uneven depending on the department or assignment. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Monitoring their shifts shows that fast solar development degrades critical vegetation and food sources, threatening local biodiversity in ways other metrics often overlook. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 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

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