degrade
verb (used with object)
to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt.
had degraded
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past perfectof degrade.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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 substantial amount of time that passed between her death and the discovery meant that crucial evidence had degraded or disappeared."
From Barron's ● Apr. 20, 2026
It underscores how much last June’s attack had degraded Iran’s capacity to compete in the skies or mount a major retaliatory response.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
But the report found that since Kim shunned diplomacy with the West and the US in 2019, instead focusing on his weapons programme, people's living situations and human rights had "degraded".
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
We watch as nature rebalances the ecosystem engines that had degraded over a period of 45 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 2, 2020
Henry III. succeeded, at the age of ten years, to a crown which his father had degraded.
From Old St. Paul's Cathedral by William Benham
