1
as in stages
an individual part of a process, series, or ranking
they worked on the project by degrees and eventually it got done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in levels
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
a Freemason of the 32nd degree
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 degrees
Unlike Earth, where the magnetic field is relatively aligned with the planet’s rotation axis, Uranus’s magnetic field is tilted by nearly 60 degrees and offset from the planet’s centre.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
Low temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees in the Sierra Nevada below 6,000 feet into the adjacent foothills.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
On some days, afternoon highs approached 50 degrees, making for unexpectedly spring-like skiing conditions in early February.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
In a separate report on Friday, the University of Michigan reported that consumer sentiment continued to diverge between those with college degrees and stock investments, and those without.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
The high on Friday is expected to be 27 degrees with a low of 14 degrees and wind chill values as low as 5 degrees.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
The Library of Fake Clouds If humanity continues to fill the atmosphere with carbon at its current rate, some simulations predict that over the next 50 or so years, the climate is headed for 2 degrees Celsius of warming.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
Cochran left home for Charlotte in 2008 to study at Johnson & Wales, earning double degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management before heading off to New York in search of great things.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The rocky world's average temperature is about -387 degrees Fahrenheit (-232 degrees C).
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
Low temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees in the Sierra Nevada below 6,000 feet into the adjacent foothills.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
On some days, afternoon highs approached 50 degrees, making for unexpectedly spring-like skiing conditions in early February.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
In a separate report on Friday, the University of Michigan reported that consumer sentiment continued to diverge between those with college degrees and stock investments, and those without.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
The high on Friday is expected to be 27 degrees with a low of 14 degrees and wind chill values as low as 5 degrees.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
The Library of Fake Clouds If humanity continues to fill the atmosphere with carbon at its current rate, some simulations predict that over the next 50 or so years, the climate is headed for 2 degrees Celsius of warming.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
Cochran left home for Charlotte in 2008 to study at Johnson & Wales, earning double degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management before heading off to New York in search of great things.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The rocky world's average temperature is about -387 degrees Fahrenheit (-232 degrees C).
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrees
Noun
-
Shoppers who fluctuate between sizes, dread sitting in rigid denim, have arthritis, and are in the early stages of pregnancy also give the jeans a thumbs-up for their flexible fit, breathable fabric, and easy pull-on design.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
-
In later stages of the disease, the only option is a lung transplant.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The closing of the MRGO and the drop in salinity levels changed all that.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
This respiratory season, the city of Chicago has seen the highest levels of emergency department visits and hospitalizations from flu since 2022.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Samuels, who scored 11 points, reached the milestone in the fourth quarter after knocking down two free throws.—
Mukala Kabongo,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The blowout loss would mark not only the biggest margin of defeat for the Trojans in two seasons under Musselman but also the first time USC (18-8 overall, 7-8 in the Big Ten) has given up more than 100 points in a game since 2019.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Having held senior positions in academia and European financial institutions, he was appointed deputy governor of the Bulgarian central bank in Sofia in 2023.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During the six years, prosecutors said, the pair used their positions to capitalize on a racketeering enterprise defrauding the state, IRS and union members.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The storytelling, which will unfold across seven chapters to be revealed throughout the season, sees Turlington as the magnetic matriarch of an Italian household, welcoming her family and friends at a countryside villa.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The union, which is an umbrella organization for multiple local chapters, represents nurses, physical therapists, midwives and other health professionals.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Torres lasted only a few months in the rebel ranks.—
Manuel Rueda,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Join the ranks of 40,000 other shoppers and snag the RoC Derm Correxion Retinol Firming Serum Stick on Amazon.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The dates for Ramadan fluctuate each year because the holiday is based on the phases of the moon.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of separating story, performance, and environment into sequential phases, IEL allows these elements to evolve together in real time.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If the right thing, there still are questions about why details of the incident took two months to reach the highest echelons of state law enforcement — or become public.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
-
These latest files show the range and depth of Epstein's extraordinary reach into the upper echelons of society.—
Diana Paulsen,
ABC News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrees. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
