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
Matt Ehling, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025
When a strong solar flare occurs, the radio waves in the ionosphere may be degraded, causing a blackout in communication, according to NOAA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Threats like inversion, theft and evasion can alter AI models, risking intellectual property theft and degrading model reliability.
—Christian Espinosa, Forbes, 3 Mar. 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
This will degrade local government responsiveness, and imperil local news coverage.
—Matt Ehling, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025
When a strong solar flare occurs, the radio waves in the ionosphere may be degraded, causing a blackout in communication, according to NOAA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Adjective
The draconian rules imposed upon women and girls in Afghanistan are strictly enforced with those objecting being threatened, beaten, detained and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment in detention.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Threats like inversion, theft and evasion can alter AI models, risking intellectual property theft and degrading model reliability.
—Christian Espinosa, Forbes, 3 Mar. 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
-
Trump began the meeting by mildly insulting Ramaphosa, who took it in stride.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
21 May 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
The comments in screen shots of the chat room were demeaning and vulgar – as were the texts from the anonymous messenger who had sent her the images.—
Yoonjung Seo and Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Here’s hoping that the rude and demeaning comments Kardashian received don't discourage her—or other celebrity parents—from sharing their breastfeeding journeys.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
Enhances visibility and control of network traffic and user activities and detects and blocks malicious activities.—
Mickey Singh,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The malicious URLs outputted in the response are in clickable form, meaning all a user has to do is click one to be taken to a malicious site.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
The word cowboy itself was used in a derogatory way to describe the former slaves as 'boys,' ... destroying the negative connotation, what remains is the strength and resiliency of these men who were the true definition of Western fortitude.—
Alex Gonzalez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
-
Feels a bit derogatory, but ultimately, results are what matters.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ventura Fine finally came forward in November 2023, filing a lawsuit alleging that Combs kept her locked in the abusive relationship through frequent beatings, coercion, control over her career and blackmail.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
-
Combs also appeared to stew in silence as a Homeland Security Investigations special agent detailed the surplus of drugs, baby oil, and firearms seized from his Miami home and when clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes explained why victims remain in abusive relationships.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
25 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
-
What Happens Next Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
-
Beijing is the primary trading partner for many, but is also feared as a regional bully, in part due to its increasingly aggressive claims on natural resources such as critical fisheries.—
Tara Copp,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share