degrading

[dih-grey-ding]

adjective

1. that degrades; debasing; humiliating.

   degrading submission.

degrading

/ dɪˈɡreɪdɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing humiliation; debasing

Other Word Forms

• degradingly adverb
• degradingness noun
• nondegrading adjective
• undegrading adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of degrading¹

First recorded in 1675–85; degrade + -ing ²

Example Sentences

It boasted a new generation of fuel-efficient engines, including one that was plagued by rapidly degrading seals meant to keep oil from leaking into the air supply.

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We all have a constitutional right to free speech, but society also has moral codes against humiliating and degrading others.

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Environmentalists say the horses are degrading the otherworldly landscape at Mono Lake, including bird habitat and its famed tufa — textured rock columns that would look at home on Mars.

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Nine Swiss nationals who returned to Geneva on Sunday also complained about what they called the "inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment", Reuters news agency cited a statement as saying.

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That is also degrading the quality of the soil, a change seen in real time by farmers like Craig and Sarah.

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Related Words

• demeaning 
• derogatory 
• disgraceful 
• humiliating