degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən 
1
: the act or process of degrading
environmental degradation
the gradual degradation of organic matter
suffer the degradations of poverty and abuse
2
a
: decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state
'A dependence upon him,' said Kate, 'would embitter my whole life. I should feel begging a far less degradation.'—
Charles Dickens
Charles DickensSome houses are found spotless, others in a wretched degradation …—Paul Reyes
Paul Reyes
b
: moral or intellectual decadence : degeneration
… educated him in the bestiality and degradation that war brings.—Drew Middleton
Drew MiddletonExamples of degradation in a Sentence
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about.
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
Recent Examples on the Web
Critical rehabilitation work has begun on about 1 ½ miles of sanitary sewer pipe in Macomb County, Michigan, after utility crews found severe degradation in the line.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Icons like the Amazon rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, and Victoria Falls tend to top the list, but sometimes a site’s notoriety can be its downfall, especially when high visitation leads to crowding and environmental degradation.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026
Together, the two-enzyme system proved significantly more effective than single-enzyme approaches, enabling near-complete degradation of the PCL matrix within six days.
—New Atlas, 11 May 2026
The move was widely seen as an effort to reassure consumers that ultra-fast charging technology would not result in excessive long-term battery degradation.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for degradation
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Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Icons like the Amazon rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, and Victoria Falls tend to top the list, but sometimes a site’s notoriety can be its downfall, especially when high visitation leads to crowding and environmental degradation.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026
Together, the two-enzyme system proved significantly more effective than single-enzyme approaches, enabling near-complete degradation of the PCL matrix within six days.
—New Atlas, 11 May 2026
The move was widely seen as an effort to reassure consumers that ultra-fast charging technology would not result in excessive long-term battery degradation.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degradation. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
1
a
: a reduction in rank, dignity, or standing
b
: removal from office
2
: loss of honor or reputation
Medical Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
: change of a chemical compound to a less complex compound
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