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

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

Research on attention residue in 2009 found that part of the mind remains attached to an unfinished task even after switching, which degrades performance on whatever comes next. — Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

If a component fails or degrades due to radiation exposure, operators can lift the specific ring segment out of the stack for isolated maintenance. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026

Those with respiratory problems and sensitive groups could experience issues as our air quality degrades a bit with the dust lingering overhead. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 29 June 2026

Trump, on the other hand, belittles and degrades people every day. — Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

This degrades your brake system’s stopping power, which reduces the overall safety of your vehicle. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

Thermomechanical recycling, another energy-intensive endeavor, relies on high-quality, homogeneous feedstock that can only be processed a limited number of times before the plastic degrades. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 17 June 2026