degrade

[ dih-greyd or, for 3, dee-greyd ]
See synonyms for: degradedegradeddegrading on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing.
  1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt: He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.

  2. to lower in character or quality; debase.

  1. 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.

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

  3. Physical Geography. to wear down by erosion, as hills.: Compare aggrade.

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

verb (used without object),de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing.
  1. to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.

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

Origin of degrade

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English degraden, from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin dē- de- + grad(us) “step, rank, progress” (see grade ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

synonym study For degrade

1. See humble.

Other words for degrade

Opposites for degrade

Other words from degrade

  • de·grad·er, noun

Words Nearby degrade

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use degrade in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for degrade

degrade

/ (dɪˈɡreɪd) /


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

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

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

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

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

Origin of degrade

1
C14: from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin de- + gradus rank, degree

Derived forms of degrade

  • degrader, noun

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