1
as in to reduce
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
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 to humiliate
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
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
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
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 degrade
ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
Security leaders must also be mindful not to replicate past mistakes—overcomplicating architectures or degrading the user experience in the name of protection.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Drill sergeants now minimize their use of profanity, insults and degrading remarks and strive to become support figures for trainees.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
Scripts degrading or becoming inaccessible could account for some of the disorientation caused by memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Verb
Meanwhile, the attorney for the young plaintiffs argued that the state’s contributions were equivalent to that of entire countries like the Netherlands, Pakistan, or Argentina, and was actively degrading Montana’s environment.
—ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
Security leaders must also be mindful not to replicate past mistakes—overcomplicating architectures or degrading the user experience in the name of protection.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Incentives for employees to resign or retire could lead to a loss of experienced staff, further degrading service quality.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Drill sergeants now minimize their use of profanity, insults and degrading remarks and strive to become support figures for trainees.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
Flint Flint even says its batteries can work for a short period of time when lit with an open flame or damaged, ultimately degrading without causing a catastrophic event.
—New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
Scripts degrading or becoming inaccessible could account for some of the disorientation caused by memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Adjective
-
The idea that women need to be properly taught how to conceive a child through a government program is a particularly insulting proposal, says Reshma Saujani, the founder and CEO of Moms First.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
-
But in March, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma, Wash., ruled for several long-serving transgender military members who say that the ban is insulting and discriminatory and that their firing would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations.—
Mark Sherman,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The woman, along with her legal team, painted a picture of a violent man whose abusive cycles included demeaning text messages, physical harm, and threats.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Luck and the university fired coach Troy Taylor last week after ESPN reported that he was twice investigated for his demeaning treatment of staffers — particularly women.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The ransomware attacks in question started with malicious Google Ads deployed by the threat actors.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Segments of the online reaction was strong and immediate, with many disappointed in the experience, creating derogatory memes in response.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Sign up for the Evening Report newsletter Musk also mocked Navarro with a derogatory term for someone with a mental disability.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Rolling Stone also previously uncovered a pattern of abusive behavior dating back to Combs’ time at Howard University.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
5 May 2025
-
As fans saw in the first movie, Faith and Hope rebelliously set their house on fire to kill their abusive father and run away.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
-
Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier.—
Emily DeLetter,
The Enquirer,
10 May 2023
Adjective
-
Founded by Frank Fertitta IV and Landon Gyulay, the Easy Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grant-making nonprofit committed to helping Veterans transition to civilian life by addressing critical needs including mental health care, job training, placement, and family support services.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
5 May 2025
-
Simion, 38, opposes military aid to neighboring Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with the US president’s Make America Great Again movement.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share