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
as in to deteriorate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrade
Female patients themselves were subjected to degrading treatment.
—
Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
The growing reports that NOAA and the National Weather Service are being degraded by understaffing and budget cuts have alarmed some members of Congress, who raised the issues during recent Capitol Hill briefings.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Israel, meanwhile, steadily degraded Tehran’s position by picking apart Hezbollah (Tehran’s most powerful partner), tearing through Hamas, and taking out some of Iran’s air defenses.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
That way, when a protein degrades and needs to be replaced, the other remains in place.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
The growing reports that NOAA and the National Weather Service are being degraded by understaffing and budget cuts have alarmed some members of Congress, who raised the issues during recent Capitol Hill briefings.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Israel, meanwhile, steadily degraded Tehran’s position by picking apart Hezbollah (Tehran’s most powerful partner), tearing through Hamas, and taking out some of Iran’s air defenses.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
That way, when a protein degrades and needs to be replaced, the other remains in place.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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The ban aims to improve academic achievement, reduce cyberbullying, and minimize classroom disruptions.—
Ruby Grisin,
The Courier-Journal,
26 July 2025
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Failure to follow instructions could reduce the product's effectiveness, damage specific surfaces, and increase potential health risks to humans and pets.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 July 2025
Verb
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The two deteriorating sites are both on the radar of municipal officials.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
21 July 2025
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The rallies are borne of a deep dissatisfaction with the state of the economy, the deteriorating quality of public services, the administration’s overzealous approach to taxation, and police brutality.—
Ken Opalo,
semafor.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
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Over 24 cycles, the show humiliated hundreds of young, naïve women (and, briefly, men) in the name of entertainment.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
9 July 2025
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Soldatov said that along this path was the 2008 war in Georgia, which showed the Russian army would not be humiliated anymore.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Lawson's struggles with the car led Red Bull to demote him to its junior F1 team after the first two races of the 2025 season.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
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Commisso’s suit, which was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany, claimed that after rebuffing Cuomo’s advances and reporting his conduct in March 2021, she was demoted and reassigned to answering phones for then-Lt. Gov. Hochul.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
18 July 2025
Verb
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This weakens their ability to educate, create, and grow.—
Miguel Cardona,
Time,
21 July 2025
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This could help verify recent findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) that suggest this strange force is actually weakening over time.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
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What used to be fringe denialism has evolved into a sophisticated, and increasingly profitable, campaign to discredit science, undermine regulation, and politicize sustainability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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The Chinese Communist Party has waged a decades-long campaign to discredit the current Dalai Lama and erase his presence from Tibetan life, while tightening restrictions on religious and cultural practices.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
3 July 2025
Verb
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On the flip side, some influencers have posted images of them wearing Skims' retro girdle as a sole outfit, subverting the 1950s connotation of undergarments as visible only to one's husband, said Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, professor of gender at Case Western Reserve University.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
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Alex managed to bypass Charlie’s detection by training herself to swallow all her natural impulses when lying, subverting the template of the show and what fans have come to expect.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Manager Luis Enrique's side then embarrassed Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16 and survived two late red cards vs. Bayern Munich to win that quarterfinal battle 2-0. PSG vs. Real Madrid Injury, Suspension, Lineup News: Both teams will be missing key pieces along their back lines today.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
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The Nuggets, like the current Rockies, were embarrassing themselves regularly before posting an 11-71 record.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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