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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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
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 Federal authorities have subjected record numbers of immigrants to mandatory detention, including in inhuman and degrading conditions, while gutting internal oversight mechanisms. — Minky Worden, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
Trump is the Republican symbol, and degrading it now will affect many voters’ views. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026 In one such surprise visit in December 2017, Assad was physically blocked by a Russian soldier from following the Russian leader in a degrading reminder of who was boss in that relationship. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 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
  • Even instances of heckling at games – over performance on the court – felt good-natured, rather than insulting.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The adventures of Addison’s titular shilling include being hoarded, offered as a bribe, and sent as an insulting accompaniment to a letter disinheriting a son.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of insulting
Verb
  • The expectation is that, with the SAFER barrier, cars will slide along it in an accident, reducing the risk of the car ending up bouncing back onto the racing line.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Asked by the Miami Herald who would cover the difference between what Hialeah pays Miami-Dade County for water and sewer services and what the city would collect after reducing customers’ bills by 25% or 50%, Calvo said there is no gap.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of reducing
Verb
  • But even with its new foundation and sweeping ceiling, the history of the old, deteriorating barn won’t be lost.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In the four months before killing her three children and attempting to kill herself, Lindsay Clancy desperately sought help for her deteriorating mental condition.
    — Tara Bannow, STAT, 4 Sep. 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
  • By demeaning and alienating most people, Capps predicted, the Christian right wing was planting the seeds of its own demise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The consulting partner who learned precision was never demeaning.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of demeaning
Verb
  • If the roster had remained unchanged before Judge’s return, the Yankees would have faced the possibility of demoting Jones or cutting a veteran such as Amed Rosario to make space.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But some astronomers were in favor of demoting Pluto well before 2006, including astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of demoting
Verb
  • Instead, in trying to explain what made both Murdoch and Lamb tick in those early days, Boyle and Graham show us just how intoxicating and corrupting this kind of success can be.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Apology is Plato’s version of the speech of self-defense Socrates gives when he is tried by the city of Athens for corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods.
    — Agnes Callard, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrupting
Verb
  • The release of his diaries though, revealed some thoroughly discrediting and upsetting details about Fauci's private beliefs.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of discrediting

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degrading
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Cite this Entry

“Degrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrading. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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