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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrading
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Cotton also gets softer with every wash instead of pilling or degrading — a durability advantage synthetic blends can’t match.
—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
Officials in Tehran got the United States to sign a document that even Americans described as degrading, mortifying, a total capitulation.
—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrading
Adjective
In principle, there is no such thing as intrinsically degrading work; degradation is a cultural phenomenon.
—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Cotton also gets softer with every wash instead of pilling or degrading — a durability advantage synthetic blends can’t match.
—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
With fewer cars coming in, fewer sales are going out, further degrading its standing with corporate.
—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
Officials in Tehran got the United States to sign a document that even Americans described as degrading, mortifying, a total capitulation.
—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrading
Adjective
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Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting.
-
What Florence has been doing is consistent and insulting.
Verb
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Manucurist formulates its masks with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, to hydrate and strengthen dry nails over time, reducing breakage.
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Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
Verb
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In 1922, Kenmore House was deteriorating, and the Kenmore Association and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) needed $30,000 for its repairs and restoration.
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And his political standing is now suddenly deteriorating to the point where Congress is maybe losing some of its fear, and there may be a different Congress after November.
Verb
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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.
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The autocrat delights in humiliating so many people, not least tech billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who once opposed him.
Adjective
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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.
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Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening.
Verb
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His workload and efficiency have been invaluable, and demoting seems unlikely.
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Psychologists and economists have spent decades demoting gratification to a sin.
Verb
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Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.
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An early discussion about social contracts comes down to us in Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Socrates, condemned to death for allegedly corrupting the youth, refused an offer to escape from prison.
Verb
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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.
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Degrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrading. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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