downgrade
Americannoun
adjective
verb (used with object)
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to assign to a lower status with a smaller salary.
-
to minimize the importance of; denigrate.
She tried to downgrade the findings of the investigation.
-
to assign a lower security classification to (information, a document, etc.).
idioms
verb
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to reduce in importance, esteem, or value, esp to demote (a person) to a poorer job
-
to speak of disparagingly
noun
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a downward slope, esp in a road
-
waning in importance, popularity, health, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of downgrade
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.
The downgrade is one catalyst for the red numbers.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
To suggest otherwise is to downgrade his work unfairly.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
The call with management later Tuesday will likely focus on its core revenue trajectory given the slight downgrade to its 2026 loan-growth projection, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
The analysts wrote Monday that the downgrade was due to uncertainty around the situation in Japan.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
She told them, for instance, that even though she was responsible for evaluating subprime mortgage bonds, she wasn’t allowed by her bosses simply to downgrade the ones she thought deserved to be downgraded.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
