degrading

[dih-grey-ding]

adjective

1. that degrades; debasing; humiliating.

   degrading submission.

degrading

/ dɪˈɡreɪdɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing humiliation; debasing

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of degrading¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From BBC

We see institution after institution forced to bow to the corrupt authority of this administration in ways that are horrifying and degrading, and that violate basic human dignity and decency.

From Salon

Contemporary reports by US government officials recount more incidents of "arbitrary and unlawful killings, kidnappings, torture and other cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment."

From BBC

The third license plate said “QUEER,” which the department said “may be considered insulting, degrading, or expressing contempt for a specific group or person.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Justice Sheldon said that the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg had previously ruled that temporary rough sleeping did not amount to degrading treatment.

From BBC

Related Words

• demeaning 
• derogatory 
• disgraceful 
• humiliating