degrade

[dih-greyd, dee-greyd]

verb (used with object)

degraded, degrading 

1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt.

   He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.

   Synonyms: discredit, dishonor, disgrace
   Antonyms: exalt

2. to lower in character or quality; debase.

   Synonyms: vitiate, abase
   Antonyms: exalt

3. to reduce (someone) to a lower rank, degree, etc.; deprive of office, rank, status, or title, especially as a punishment.

   degraded from director to assistant director.

   Synonyms: break, cashier, lower, downgrade, depose, demote
   Antonyms: promote

4. to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.

5. Physical Geography.,  to wear down by erosion, as hills.

6. Chemistry.,  to break down (a compound, especially an organic hydrocarbon).

verb (used without object)

degraded, degrading 

1. to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.

2. Chemistry.,  (especially of an organic hydrocarbon compound) to break down or decompose.

degrade

/ dɪˈɡreɪd /

verb

1. (tr) to reduce in worth, character, etc; disgrace; dishonour

2. (tr) to reduce in rank, status, or degree; remove from office; demote

3. (tr) to reduce in strength, quality, intensity, etc

4. to reduce or be reduced by erosion or down-cutting, as a land surface or bed of a river Compare aggrade

5. chem to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules

Other Word Forms

• degrader noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of degrade¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English degraden, from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin dē- de- + grad(us) “step, rank, progress” ( grade ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of degrade¹

C14: from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin _de- + gradus rank, degree

Synonym Study

See humble.

Example Sentences

The third license plate said “QUEER,” which the department said “may be considered insulting, degrading, or expressing contempt for a specific group or person.”

From Los Angeles Times

That’s an indication that, a decade after the country began its descent into right-wing autocracy, America’s culture is now as degraded as its democracy.

From Salon

Mr Justice Sheldon said that the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg had previously ruled that temporary rough sleeping did not amount to degrading treatment.

From BBC

The UN warned in July that the couple could perish "in such degrading conditions" if they did not receive medical care at once, calling their detention "inhumane".

From BBC

But the report found that since Kim shunned diplomacy with the West and the US in 2019, instead focusing on his weapons programme, people's living situations and human rights had "degraded".

From BBC

Related Words

• cheapen 
• corrupt 
• debase 
• degenerate 
• demean 
• deteriorate 
• diminish 
• discredit 
• disgrace 
• downgrade 
• impair 
• lessen 
• reduce 
• vitiate 
• weaken