degraded; degrading; degrades
1
a
: to lower in grade, rank, or status : demote
b
: to strip of rank or honors
c
: to lower to an inferior or less effective level
degrade the image quality
d
: to scale down in desirability or salability
2
3
: to impair in respect to some physical property
material degraded by exposure to sunlight
4
geology
: to wear down by erosion
degraded the hillside
5
chemistry
: to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) : decompose
1
: to pass from a higher grade or class to a lower
causes the meat to degrade in quality
2
of a chemical compound
: to become reduced in complexity
plastics that don't easily degrade
degrader
noun
Did you know?
In Shakespeare's King Lear, the old king is degraded by the daughters he has given his kingdom to. He finds it degrading, for instance, when the number of his guards is reduced from 100 to 25. His degradation seems complete when, after going mad, he's reduced to living in the wilderness. As you can see, degrade is often a synonym for humiliate.
Examples of degrade in a Sentence
The group accuses the company of degrading women in its ads.
He felt degraded by their remarks.
Scratches on a camera lens will degrade the image.
Pollution has degraded air quality.
Recent Examples on the Web
As the city's highway infrastructure degrades with age, the local group is advocating for a future rebuild that would better connect the neighborhoods surrounding the highway and improve drivers' commutes.
—
Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Oct. 2024
Bras made from cotton or wool are more sustainable and degrade much faster.
—Julia Ries, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024
Here's Why the Election May Already Be Over | Opinion
Donald Trump has spent his entire adult life objectifying, demeaning, and degrading women.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
With the Hamas militia also heavily degraded, the threat from it is greatly reduced.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for degrade 
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Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Oct. 2024
Bras made from cotton or wool are more sustainable and degrade much faster.
—Julia Ries, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024
Here's Why the Election May Already Be Over | Opinion
Donald Trump has spent his entire adult life objectifying, demeaning, and degrading women.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
With the Hamas militia also heavily degraded, the threat from it is greatly reduced.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for degrade
Dictionary Entries Near degrade
Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degrade. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
degrade
transitive verb
de·grade
di-ˈgrād 
degraded; degrading
: to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) by splitting off one or more groups or larger components : decompose
cellulose is degraded by the action of some bacteria
: to undergo chemical degradation
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