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

Derived Forms

• deˈgrader, noun

Other Words From

• de·grader noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of degrade¹

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

Synonym Study

See humble.

Example Sentences

Some were worried the earlier announced changes would degrade or fundamentally alter the programs — while others applauded the relaxed admissions criteria as a step toward making them more accessible.

From Los Angeles Times

By attacking Hezbollah on multiple fronts, Israel hopes to degrade the group and let its people return home.

From BBC

“It’s Big Ag wanting to do business as usual, pollute, exploit and degrade human health, all for profit,” she said.

From Salon

Unlike Trump, actual men don’t degrade women and possess both humility and the capacity for normal human emotions, such as empathy and sorrow.

From Salon

The United States may be the most powerful country on the planet, but it can’t control, let alone dictate to, states in the region — particularly when one of those states, Israel, is fully invested in using its superior conventional strength to degrade Iran’s network of proxy militias in the region.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheapen
• corrupt
• debase
• degenerate
• demean
• deteriorate
• diminish
• discredit
• disgrace
• downgrade
• impair
• lessen
• reduce
• vitiate
• weaken