degraded
Americanadjective
-
reduced in rank, position, reputation, etc..
He felt degraded by the trivial tasks assigned to him.
-
reduced in quality or value; debased; vulgarized.
the degraded level of the modern novel.
Other Word Forms
- degradedly adverb
- degradedness noun
- undegraded adjective
Etymology
Origin of degraded
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; see origin at degrade, -ed 2
Vocabulary lists containing degraded
"The Declaration of Sentiments" (1848)
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"Ellen West" by Frank Bidart
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Given the "substantial amount of time that passed between her death and the discovery", evidence had degraded or disappeared, he said.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Iran’s military has been significantly degraded, but it still retains substantial firepower with which it can threaten any ships trying to block the strait.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
With Iran’s air defenses largely degraded, they can instead rely on weapons such as laser-guided bombs, helping ease pressure on stockpiles.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
As a result, proteins are not properly degraded, which can lead to the death of nerve cells.
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
We are as easily degraded as any other people.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
