degrade
verb (used with object)
to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt.
have degraded
-
present perfectof degrade.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Rising sea levels and surging tides from increasingly powerful storms -- resulting in an increase in soil salinity -- have degraded agricultural lands, pushing people into tiger territory.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
But activities such as grazing and development have degraded so much habitat that the threatened species now occupies only 12% of its historical range, according to a 2023 survey by the U.S.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025
They too speak to the difficulty of rendering language in solid form, and we see flaws in each piece where the molds have degraded after repeated use.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
Decades of farming and irrigation have degraded the soil, drawing salts and metals to the surface.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025
Thence comes the possibility that a Spanish prince should have degraded himself in the eyes of Europe as a sempster and embroiderer of petticoats.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 54, No. 333, July 1843 by Various
