degraded

[ dih-grey-did ]

adjective

1. reduced in rank, position, reputation, etc.:

   He felt degraded by the trivial tasks assigned to him.

2. reduced in quality or value; debased; vulgarized:

   the degraded level of the modern novel.

Other Words From

• de·graded·ly adverb
• de·graded·ness noun
• unde·graded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of degraded¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; degrade, -ed ²

Example Sentences

The discourse has steadily degraded there, but the power users have not fled en masse.

From Slate

Since then, the nation’s sense of a shared reality has only degraded further.

From Slate

They are making a world so scary and degraded that it's perfectly understandable not to want to inflict it on a child.

From Salon

Mr. Francis’ actions not only degraded the 7th Fleet’s readiness but shook the Fleet’s trust in its leadership who furthered his corrupt practices,” Kelly said.

From BBC

It’s really important to strengthening and maintaining equal rights for all in the state, as they’re likely to be continually attacked and degraded at the national level.

From Slate