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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorates
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 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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrades
Similarly, the Waterloo team engineered a cascade reaction pathway that incrementally degrades plastic polymers into acetic acid.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Shields protect us from radiation, which degrades pretty much every tissue in the human body.
—Big Think, 19 Feb. 2026
This is dangerous and degrades our country -- where are Senate Republicans?
—Justin Gomez, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
Since genetic material degrades over time, mapping the genome of animals like these that died thousands of years ago is incredibly difficult.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Venezuela may not be the sole source of cocaine, nor a major conduit for fentanyl, but dismantling a regime that actively protects and profits from transnational criminal networks unquestionably degrades those networks’ capacity to operate.
—Timothy M. Herbst, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
But that study measured the shoes after 280 miles, leaving it unclear how much the foam degrades in 50 or 100 miles.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside, 26 Dec. 2025
Thawing permafrost is releasing iron and other minerals into rivers, which degrades drinking water.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
This is not a product that degrades over time.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Shields protect us from radiation, which degrades pretty much every tissue in the human body.
—Big Think, 19 Feb. 2026
This is dangerous and degrades our country -- where are Senate Republicans?
—Justin Gomez, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
Since genetic material degrades over time, mapping the genome of animals like these that died thousands of years ago is incredibly difficult.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Venezuela may not be the sole source of cocaine, nor a major conduit for fentanyl, but dismantling a regime that actively protects and profits from transnational criminal networks unquestionably degrades those networks’ capacity to operate.
—Timothy M. Herbst, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
But that study measured the shoes after 280 miles, leaving it unclear how much the foam degrades in 50 or 100 miles.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside, 26 Dec. 2025
Thawing permafrost is releasing iron and other minerals into rivers, which degrades drinking water.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
This is not a product that degrades over time.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrades
Verb
-
Recent research examining extensive housing market data reaches similar conclusions, finding that institutional investors buying single-family homes raises home prices by 1-2% and reduces rents by nearly the same amount.—
Adrian Moore,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The fiber in fruit slows digestion and reduces the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, helping to lower post-meal blood sugar levels.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As her vision deteriorates, Penny turns to psychoanalysis not in hopes of reversing her condition, but to confront years of denial and silence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Europe is tightening the net on Russian oil being shipped through its waters, squeezing Moscow’s ability to fund its war even as officials and business executives in Russia fear the window is narrowing to reach a peace deal before the economy deteriorates.—
Catherine Belton,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Thecla humiliates him by ripping his robe and tearing the wreath off his head.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2026
-
To show him who’s boss, Catherine turns around and buys Pac-North, humiliates him by closing it, and forces him back to Grey Sloan.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Privacy advocates argue that any ambiguity around storage or deletion timelines weakens public confidence.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Sending young people far from home weakens support systems and makes outcomes worse.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Dec. 2025
-
Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their team might need the firmer assessment that challenges pride and even embarrasses, then the next year's group might need a lighter touch.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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While most women figure skaters are known to sport pristine buns and dance to very predictable classics and pop songs, Alysa Liu subverts the norm.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Gourault often subverts the extractivist logic of new media technologies and employs open-source investigation in the production of his films.—
Farren Fei Yuan,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrades. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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