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View synonyms for degrade

degrade

[ dih-greyd dee-greyd ]

verb (used with object)

, de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing.
  1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt:

    He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.

    Synonyms: discredit, dishonor, disgrace

    Antonyms: exalt

  2. to lower in character or quality; debase.

    Synonyms: vitiate, abase

    Antonyms: exalt

  3. 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.

    Synonyms: break, cashier, lower, downgrade, depose, demote

    Antonyms: promote

  4. to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.
  5. Physical Geography. to wear down by erosion, as hills. Compare aggrade.
  6. Chemistry. to break down (a compound, especially an organic hydrocarbon).


verb (used without object)

, de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing.
  1. to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.
  2. Chemistry. (especially of an organic hydrocarbon compound) to break down or decompose.

degrade

/ dɪˈɡreɪd /

verb

  1. tr to reduce in worth, character, etc; disgrace; dishonour
  2. diːˈɡreɪd tr to reduce in rank, status, or degree; remove from office; demote
  3. tr to reduce in strength, quality, intensity, etc
  4. to reduce or be reduced by erosion or down-cutting, as a land surface or bed of a river Compare aggrade
  5. chem to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules
“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


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Derived Forms

  • deˈgrader, noun
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Other Words From

  • de·grader noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of degrade1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English degraden, from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin dē- de- + grad(us) “step, rank, progress” ( grade ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of degrade1

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

See humble.
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Example Sentences

They need the right moisture levels and microbes to degrade.

There has also been much speculation about a “million-mile battery” capable of being recharged many more times than current models without degrading.

From Fortune

Extreme temperatures, low pressure and radiation can quickly degrade cell membranes and destroy DNA.

The thalattosaur remains show little evidence of being degraded by stomach acid, suggesting the ichthyosaur died shortly after its enormous meal.

She tested how fast her gel formula would degrade in the sun and wind by applying the gel to a non-bee drone.

Now Obama promises to “degrade and destroy” the self-declared Islamic State (or ISIL, or ISIS).

U.S. warplanes have already flown more than 100 sorties to degrade ISIS ground forces, and many more bombs are on the way.

The plan to degrade al Qaeda enough so that U.S. forces can leave is already lagging behind schedule.

“Dioxin” is the dirtiest of dirty words and this designation, like the chemical itself, does not degrade.

Kenneth recognizes the terrible truths of our existence: that gun violence will continue to devastate and degrade everyone.

You would degrade yourself to my level; and, God knows, mine is a very low level.

Misfortune cannot degrade a man, unless he be intrinsically mean; it rather elevates him.

Let such men become drivers to stage-coaches, but let them not degrade the name of travellers by assuming it to themselves.

But men also humiliate us, degrade us, jeer at, ridicule the miseries that they and their society entail upon us.

It flashed by like some grand procession of the stage, if one can so degrade its power and reality by the comparison.

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degradation of energydegraded