degraded

[ dih-grey-did ]

/ dɪˈgreɪ dɪd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR degraded ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

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Origin of degraded

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at degrade, -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM degraded

de·grad·ed·ly, adverbde·grad·ed·ness, nounun·de·grad·ed, adjective

Words nearby degraded

degorger, degradable, degradation, degradation of energy, degrade, degraded, degrading, degranulation, degrease, degree, degree day

Definition for degraded (2 of 2)

degrade

[ dih-greyd or for 3, dee-greyd ]

/ dɪˈgreɪd or for 3, diˈgreɪd /

verb (used with object), de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing.

to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt: He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.

to lower in character or quality; debase.

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.

to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.

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

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

verb (used without object), de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing.

to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.

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

Origin of degrade

1275–1325; Middle English degraden < Late Latin dēgradāre, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + grad(us) grade + -āre infinitive suffix

SYNONYMS FOR degrade

1 disgrace, dishonor, discredit.

2 abase, vitiate.

3 demote, depose, downgrade, lower, cashier, break.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR degrade ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR degrade

1, 2 exalt.

3 promote.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR degrade ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for degrade

1. See humble.

OTHER WORDS FROM degrade

de·grad·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for degraded

It's a place where minorities are degraded and maligned for fun.
The Fox News Apology Tour|Dean Obeidallah|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The nature of the mobile-enabled swarmcast means it appear to be degraded, but it has really only reconfigured.
ISIS Is Winning the Online Jihad Against the West|Ali Fisher, Nico Prucha|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A high end audio system from 50 years ago sounds better than your degraded, compressed product.
25 Things I Want from an Online Music Service (and Almost Never Get)|Ted Gioia|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He degraded her and he really put her through the wringer, but she survived that and stayed with him anyway.
Adam Driver on Role-Play Sex with Lena Dunham on ‘Girls’ and Adam’s Stormy Relationship with Hannah|Marlow Stern|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When people and goods can't move because of a degraded transportation infrastructure, business comes to a screeching halt.
The MTA and New York City Will Get Hit Again|Matthew Zeitlin|November 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Women despised her; no man would marry her, and she might be degraded by a punishment inflicted by her parents.
Folkways|William Graham Sumner
The one way is the positive way, when a man who suffers trouble is degraded by it.
The Evil Genius|Wilkie Collins
The Gymnotidae are strongly modified and degraded Characinidae.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2|Various
How could he bear that any of his former friends should look upon him degraded and repulsive of aspect?
Nevermore|Rolf Boldrewood
Verily, the whole creation groaneth and travaileth, and man is a degraded monster, and sin is over all.
The Big Bow Mystery|I. Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for degraded

degrade

/ (dɪˈɡreɪd) /

verb

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

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

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

to reduce or be reduced by erosion or down-cutting, as a land surface or bed of a riverCompare aggrade

chem to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules

Derived forms of degrade

degrader, noun

Word Origin for degrade

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012