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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrade
Nonstick coatings in particular can degrade quickly in these conditions.
—
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Losing one or several satellites to an attack would not degrade the constellation's overall capability.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
This rampant, unauthorized AI use degrades the educational experience of individual students who overly rely on the technology and those who wish to avoid using it.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
For Mono County, which was issued by NWS Reno, the advisory warned that dense smoke was reducing visibility to 1 mile or less and also degrading air quality.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Losing one or several satellites to an attack would not degrade the constellation's overall capability.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
This rampant, unauthorized AI use degrades the educational experience of individual students who overly rely on the technology and those who wish to avoid using it.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
For Mono County, which was issued by NWS Reno, the advisory warned that dense smoke was reducing visibility to 1 mile or less and also degrading air quality.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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The researchers believe that the benefit likely comes from aspirin acting in several ways – by reducing inflammation and inhibiting platelet function and tumor growth.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In 2016, court filings indicate Gamez Lira was charged with possession of marijuana but ultimately pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after the charges were reduced.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Also on display was a 1774 letter from King George III to Prime Minister Lord North, acknowledging the escalating rebellion in the American colonies and referencing the Boston Tea Party as a pivotal moment in deteriorating relations.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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In the weeks after the phone call, the relationship between the two countries deteriorated.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Continually moving the goalposts or using testing to humiliate or control can cause relational harm.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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And Sacks, a PayPal Mafia member and veteran Silicon Valley investor, is just the sort of titan of industry this town routinely devours and humiliates — from Rex Tillerson to, well, Elon Musk.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Elsewhere in the state, last year’s recipients—Beckon in Denver, Bosq in Aspen, Brutø in Denver, and Frasca Food and Wine—all retained their one-star status, while no restaurants were demoted this year.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
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Sunday, Denver’s defense will demote him to Daniel Jones again.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Federal Reserve is closely watching spending trends as policymakers debate a path for interest rate cuts — with the first trim expected Wednesday — but signs of a weakening labor market loom over the economy.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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While the greenback has depreciated against other major currencies this year, with the dollar index tumbling over 10%, those currencies have also weakened in value relative to gold, Dalio said, noting that gold has become the second largest reserve currency globally.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Holmes likewise discredited the MS-13 accusation, for which prosecutors relied on the testimony of coöperating witnesses who either contradicted one another or were otherwise unreliable.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Cordell report has since been discredited — missing transcripts, factual errors and even confusion of key witnesses.—
Matthew J. Frauenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those tactics are also used to generate funds meant to help the regime subvert international sanctions and develop its nuclear weapons programs, according to the US government.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
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Consistently subverting audience expectations, Don’t Breathe features an incredibly twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Good, because there is one Duck — Justin Herbert — who will happily embarrass them.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 Sep. 2025
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The team that embarrassed the Rams at SoFi Stadium in November.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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