degrading 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈgrā-diŋ How to pronounce degrading (audio)
Definition of degradingnext
as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value made degrading comments about his so-called friend behind his back

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

degrading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of degrade
1
as in reducing
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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2
as in deteriorating
to lower in character, dignity, or quality degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume

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3
as in humiliating
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 degrading
Adjective
Nowak's father called his son's treatment by police inhumane and degrading. — Holly Williams, CBS News, 3 June 2026 The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
This helps avoid harming pollinators like bees and prevents the sun from degrading the pesticide or burning the plants. — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026 The material can power reactions such as oxidizing organic molecules, potentially degrading pollutants, sterilizing surfaces, or enabling photocatalytic chemistry to continue later in the dark. — New Atlas, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for degrading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrading
  1. insulting
  2. reducing
  3. deteriorating
  4. humiliating
  5. demeaning
  6. demoting
  7. corrupting
  8. discrediting
Adjective
  • The target of the anger and scorn in all the insulting posters, slogans, and graffiti of the protest zone was not the education minister but Modi himself.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The big reveal that Rey was really the still-not-dead Emperor’s grand-daughter was incoherent and kind of insulting.
    — Adam Frank, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of insulting
Verb
  • Following numerous noise complaints, the town is requiring players to use a new noise-reducing ball that is far more expensive than a regular ball.
    — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • The company, which generated approximately $10 billion in revenue in 2025, is increasingly embedding AI across its equipment, digital platforms and dealer network to help farmers improve yields while reducing costs.
    — Peter High, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of reducing
Verb
  • Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 July 2026
  • Allen said the house needed to be gutted, the inside was deteriorating and termites were eating at the doors.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • The Iranians are now setting the terms of this conflict and are routinely humiliating the American president.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Definition of humiliating
Adjective
  • Some wives and girlfriends balk at the label, calling it demeaning shorthand that gives short shrift to a woman’s own worth.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
  • Some women who filed lawsuits against Ortega reported they had been confused about whether demeaning or uncomfortable actions the doctor engaged in during exams was within the bounds of necessary medical behavior.
    — Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Definition of demeaning
Verb
  • San Francisco called up Carson Whisenhunt from Triple-A Sacramento Thursday morning, demoting beleaguered reliever Ryan Walker in a corresponding roster move.
    — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • His workload and efficiency have been invaluable, and demoting seems unlikely.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of demoting
Verb
  • The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reported that AI training data and inputs are being manipulated and warned that attackers could influence model behavior by corrupting the information AI systems rely upon.
    — Syed Ali, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Definition of corrupting
Verb
  • Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Defense attorney Tom Mesereau was an expert at discrediting witnesses, subjects told the filmmakers, but certain key witnesses, like Janet Arvizo, struggled to connect with the jury on their own.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of discrediting

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degrades
degrading
degree
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Cite this Entry

“Degrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrading. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on degrading

Nglish: Translation of degrading for Spanish Speakers

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