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
• insulting
• shaming
• disgracing
• debasing
• demeaning
• humbling
• dishonoring
• confusing
• cheapening
• rattling
• lowering
• abasing
• fouling
• diminishing
• criticizing
• taking down
• chastening
• ridiculing
• minimizing
• sinking
• disparaging
• mortifying
• disconcerting
• belittling
• smirching
• detracting
• discounting
• depreciating
• decrying
• maligning
• slandering
• discomfiting
• condemning
• defaming
• defiling
• confounding
• discountenancing
• 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

No one should be subject to listening to the most degrading and profane words that now seem popular with some people. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

According to the company, the electronic attack variant is intended to provide non-kinetic effects on the battlefield by disrupting and degrading enemy sensors and reconnaissance networks. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026

Verb

Sports betting is degrading the financial health of the most vulnerable households, according to a new study that tees up an emerging political issue. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 23 July 2026

Sandwiching these is a silicon carbide layer, which acts as a high-strength pressure vessel capable of withstanding extreme internal pressures and temperatures exceeding 1,600°C without degrading. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026