Synonyms of degrading

degrading 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈgrā-diŋ 

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

• insulting
• slighting
• demeaning
• malicious
• derogatory
• abusive
• disparaging
• critical
• uncomplimentary
• contemptuous
• pejorative
• deprecatory
• disdainful
• depreciatory
• scornful
• derisory
• belittling
• derogative
• venomous
• denigratory
• hateful
• depreciative
• libelous
• detractive
• nasty
• decrying
• cruel
• denigrative
• defamatory
• slanderous
• unkind
• scurrilous
• spiteful
• malignant
• malign
• calumnious
• opprobrious
• virulent
• malevolent
• maligning
• slandering
• mean
• vilifying
• caustic
• aspersing
• despiteful
• jealous
• denunciatory
• bitter
• catty
• scathing
• envious
• resentful
• acrimonious
• rancorous
• acrid
• jaundiced
• denunciative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• positive
• laudatory
• complimentary
• commendatory
• approving
• friendly
• admiring
• respectful
• adulatory
• kind
• appreciative
• laudative
• warm
• sympathetic
• applauding
• kindly
• kindhearted
• warmhearted
• unmalicious

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reducing
• demoting
• downgrading
• dismissing
• busting
• sacking
• disrating
• breaking
• firing
• humiliating
• demeaning
• debasing
• downsizing
• laying off
• lowering
• canning
• humbling
• abasing
• cashiering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• promoting
• raising
• advancing
• elevating
• hiring

2

as in deteriorating

to lower in character, dignity, or quality

degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorating
• humiliating
• corrupting
• weakening
• damaging
• debasing
• demeaning
• subverting
• destroying
• poisoning
• diluting
• debauching
• perverting
• ruining
• depraving
• demoralizing
• disgracing
• polluting
• lessening
• cheapening
• prostituting
• abasing
• bastardizing
• marring
• vitiating
• warping
• contaminating
• profaning
• shaming
• tainting
• cankering
• impairing
• harming
• hurting
• humbling
• wrecking
• thinning
• defiling
• dirtying
• dishonoring
• spoiling
• tarnishing
• watering down
• staining
• befouling
• descending
• defacing
• depreciating
• downgrading
• begriming
• flawing
• taking down
• blemishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improving
• uplifting
• elevating
• honoring
• enhancing
• exalting
• ennobling
• enriching
• amending
• ameliorating
• dignifying
• perfecting
• bettering
• cleaning
• restoring
• respecting
• purifying
• refining
• clarifying
• cleansing
• meliorating

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

• humiliating
• discrediting
• embarrassing
• shaming
• insulting
• debasing
• demeaning
• disgracing
• humbling
• dishonoring
• confusing
• cheapening
• rattling
• lowering
• abasing
• fouling
• diminishing
• criticizing
• taking down
• chastening
• ridiculing
• minimizing
• sinking
• disparaging
• mortifying
• disconcerting
• belittling
• smirching
• detracting
• depreciating
• discounting
• decrying
• maligning
• slandering
• discomfiting
• defaming
• defiling
• confounding
• discountenancing
• condemning
• flustering
• affronting
• castigating
• libeling
• denouncing
• writing off
• fazing
• abashing
• nonplussing
• damning
• censuring
• putting down
• crying down
• bad-mouthing
• execrating
• reprobating
• reprehending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elevating
• exalting
• praising
• citing
• honoring
• aggrandizing
• complimenting
• recognizing
• commending
• deifying
• celebrating
• boasting
• extolling
• cheering
• acknowledging
• applauding
• saluting
• lauding
• decorating
• congratulating
• hailing
• canonizing
• eulogizing
• touting
• acclaiming
• highlighting
• promoting
• dignifying
• glorifying
• advancing
• ennobling
• upgrading
• lifting
• magnifying
• spotlighting
• uplifting
• enshrining
• raising
• feting
• boosting
• playing up
• enthroning
• idealizing
• romanticizing
• enskying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of degrading

Adjective

The State Department had designated and sanctioned Ghezel Hesar Prison in 2024 for gross human rights violations and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Even worse, researchers accused Fable 5 of selectively degrading responses related to advanced AI development, providing less useful information on subjects that could aid competing developers and independent researchers. — James Marks, Fortune, 23 July 2026

Verb

The study showed that adding synthetic, non-canonical amino acids called azatryptophans to plastic-degrading enzymes (PETases) can break the trade-off between catalytic activity and thermal stability. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Simply douse it with mildly alkaline water, and the polymer begins degrading, breaking down within minutes. — New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026