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 White House said it was coordinating with regional partners to secure shipping lanes, degrade Houthi capabilities and disrupt the flow of Iranian weapons to his group.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But many of their earlier designs depend on synthetic catalysts or inorganic semiconductors, which either degrade quickly, waste much of the solar spectrum, or contain toxic elements such as lead.

Read more on Science Daily

This style prized tracks that hit like a brick through a window, with tossed-off, degraded production that would give older Sinatra-lovers a heart attack.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Officers have been issued with advice to improve their conduct after "degrading and inappropriate comments," were recorded on a phone seized during a man's arrest, an investigation has found.

Read more on BBC

"By then, the worn-out and considerably degraded glaciers will 'recouple' to the steadily warming atmosphere, sealing their fate," says Shaw.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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