Definition of degradenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

degrading

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

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
Verb
While some look at this aesthetic as idealizing a time where women had fewer rights and independence, many trad wives do not think their roles are degrading. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Standard controllers then attempt to suppress the issue, which often degrades reactor performance. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
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 degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
  • Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Advanced transmission technologies can reduce those losses and increase existing network capacity without requiring entirely new lines.
    Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The bank raised its price target to 19 cents per pound over three months, citing tightening inventories, India’s unexpected import program and deteriorating weather in India, Thailand and the EU.
    Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The facility’s ceiling paint started to deteriorate above the Hobart Vulcan streamer.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • On a cold night in November 2011, in a field outside Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, a gang of thugs stormed a Soviet scientific research institute, beat and humiliated the staff and burned the place to the ground.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • My husband was humiliated, he was degraded, and not able to defend himself.
    Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
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
  • Jose Bueno, who was chief of staff under former Superintendent Jose Dotres and applied for the role this year, was demoted to an assistant superintendent role last month.
    Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Dairy cows are producing less milk and birthing fewer or weakened calves.
    Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Though Hurricane Marie continues to weaken in the southern Pacific Ocean — and is expected to remain hundreds of miles off the Southern California coastline — the region can still expect to feel some effects from the storm over the next few days.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Still, with all the aforementioned accomplishments, and decades later, Steinem said that her naysayers used her bunny work in an attempt to discredit her.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Robinson’s defense, for its part, worked to discredit the state’s witnesses and the interpretations of data by forensic examiners.
    Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Bangladeshi cinema has been equally insistent on subverting patriarchal stereotypes.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The film’s procedural aspect ticks along just fine, holding the attention without subverting expectations, and carried by actors who, much like the detectives in this case, are ultra-capable professionals with no inclination to go rogue on us.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This clearly sounds like a blazing hot take that will chill soon and embarrass often.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.
    Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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