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
Others employ leaf blowers, taking care not to degrade the artificial turf.
—
Donna Gordon Blankinship, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
This is dangerous and degrades our country -- where are Senate Republicans?
—Justin Gomez, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
Making buses free risks degrading performance.
—Josh Appel, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Infrastructure in Venezuela is severely degraded, and any meaningful revival would likely require more than $100 billion in investment over a decade.
—Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Donna Gordon Blankinship, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
This is dangerous and degrades our country -- where are Senate Republicans?
—Justin Gomez, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
Making buses free risks degrading performance.
—Josh Appel, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Infrastructure in Venezuela is severely degraded, and any meaningful revival would likely require more than $100 billion in investment over a decade.
—Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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Both coffee and tea contain bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols and caffeine, which may reduce inflammation and cellular damage while defending against cognitive decline.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Snowmaking specialist TechnoAlpin, which is supplying this year’s Winter Olympics, said technology has advanced significantly over recent decades, reducing energy demand and water consumption.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because of deteriorating conditions, operations were transitioned to a defensive strategy, Marceau said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Working conditions, meanwhile, have continued to deteriorate as the demands on workers increase.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At one point at the table, Jane ran a fork down the side of Robert's face, leaving red lines, humiliating him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Days after the segment was recorded, Schmitz shot Amedure to death, then confessed to the murder, saying he'd been humiliated on national TV.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bovino was demoted last month, two days after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan 24.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has censured Kelly for participating in the video and is trying to retroactively demote Kelly from his retired rank of captain.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Investors don’t want to inadvertently cheer on weakening job growth that could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth, hurting stock prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The National Weather Service says the ridge keeping California dry since last month is beginning to weaken.—
Monica Garske,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In some of the depositions, State Farm attorneys attempted to discredit their testimony.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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During closing arguments, prosecutors used the four photographs at the center of the controversy to discredit the testimony of Link’s mother, the order says.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Yet, because of the loophole in the Citizens United ruling, foreign investors can now subvert that federal law through multinational corporations.—
Michael Gianaris,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Gourault often subverts the extractivist logic of new media technologies and employs open-source investigation in the production of his films.—
Farren Fei Yuan,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One day, Will goes viral after embarrassing ROAR league MVP, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), during a streetball challenge, prompting his favorite team, the Vineland Thorns, to sign him to a season-ending contract in a desperate attempt to juice ticket sales.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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