Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense degrades, present participle degrading, past tense, past participle degraded
1. verb
Something that degrades someone causes people to have less respect for them.
...the notion that pornography degrades women. [VERB noun]
When I asked him if he had ever taken bribes he said he wouldn't degrade himselflike that. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
degradingadjective
Mr Porter was subjected to a degrading strip-search.
Synonyms: demeaning, lowering, humiliating, disgraceful More Synonyms of degrade
2. verb
To degrade something means to cause it to get worse.
[formal]
...the ability to meet human needs indefinitely without degrading the environment. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: damage, injure, harm, mar More Synonyms of degrade
3. verb
In science, if a substance degrades or if something degrades it, it changes chemically and decays or separates into different substances.
[technical]
This substance degrades rapidly in the soil. [VERB]
...the ability of these enzymes to degrade cellulose. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: break down, decay, degenerate, atrophy More Synonyms of degrade
More Synonyms of degrade
degrade in British English
(dɪˈɡreɪd)
verb
1. (transitive)
to reduce in worth, character, etc; disgrace; dishonour
2. (diːˈɡreɪd)(transitive)
to reduce in rank, status, or degree; remove from office; demote
3. (transitive)
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. chemistry
to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules
Derived forms
degrader (deˈgrader)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin de- + gradus rank, degree
degrade in American English
(diˈgreɪd; dɪˈgreɪd)
verb transitiveWord forms: deˈgraded or deˈgrading
1.
to lower in rank or status, as in punishing; demote
2.
to lower or corrupt in quality, moral character, or value; debase
3.
to bring into dishonor or contempt
4. Chemistry
to convert (an organic compound) into a simpler compound by removal of one or more parts of the molecule; decompose
5. Geology
to lower (a land surface) by erosion
verb intransitive
6. Rare
to sink to a lower grade or type
7.
to be converted into a simpler compound or compounds; decompose
SYNONYMY NOTE: degrade literally means to lower in grade or rank, but it commonly implies a lowering orcorrupting of moral character and self-respect; , abase suggests a loss, often merely temporary and self-imposed, of dignity and respect[he abased himself before his employer]; debase implies a decline in value, quality, or character [a debased mind]; to humble is to lower the pride or increase the humility, esp. of another, and, unqualified,suggests that such lowering is deserved [humbled by the frightening experience]; to humiliate is to humble or shame another painfully and in public [humiliated by their laughter]
Derived forms
degrader (deˈgrader)
noun
Word origin
ME degraden < OFr degrader < LL degradare, to reduce in rank < L de-, down + gradus: see de- & grade
Examples of 'degrade' in a sentence
degrade
The tranquillity of countless thousands of people will be harmed, homes will be bulldozed and air quality degraded.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We have always said this needs to be degraded and destroyed.
The Sun (2015)
The report was critical of the lack of action by governments across the world in protecting the environment from being degraded.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The next bit of land then becomes degraded and then there's no green belt.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
degrade
British English: degrade VERB
Something that degrades someone causes people to have less respect for them.
Many of their songs were crude and degraded women.
American English: degrade
Brazilian Portuguese: degradar
Chinese: 使贬低身份
European Spanish: degradar
French: rabaisser
German: erniedrigen
Italian: degradare
Japanese: 品位を落とす
Korean: 비하하다
European Portuguese: degradar
Latin American Spanish: degradar
1 (verb)
Definition
to reduce to dishonour or disgrace
No-one should feel degraded at their place of work.
Synonyms
demean
All this talk of money just demeans us.
disgrace
These soldiers have disgraced their regiment.
humiliate
His teacher continually humiliates him in maths lessons.
injure
shame
I wouldn't shame my family by trying that.
corrupt
Cruelty depraves and corrupts.
humble
the little car company that humbled the industry giants
discredit
He says his accusers are trying to discredit him.
pervert
He was accused of perverting the nation's youth.
debase
I won't debase myself by answering that question.
dishonour
I don't want to dishonour the men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe.
cheapen
Love is a word cheapened by overuse.
Opposites
honour
,
enhance
,
dignify
,
ennoble
2 (verb)
Definition
to reduce in status or quality
the ability to meet human needs without degrading the environment
Synonyms
damage
The strong winds damaged the fence.
injure
Too much stress can injure your health.
harm
a warning that the product may harm the environment
mar
A number of problems marred the smooth running of the event.
undermine
This will undermine their chances of success.
weaken
Her opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened.
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
impair
The bright sunshine was impairing my vision.
3 (verb)
Definition
to decompose into atoms or smaller molecules
This substance degrades rapidly in the soil.
Synonyms
break down
decay
The dead leaves slowly decayed.
degenerate
The argument degenerated into a fist fight.
atrophy
His muscle atrophied, and he had difficulty walking.
4 (verb)
Definition
to reduce in status or quality
He was degraded to a lower rank.
Synonyms
demote
If managers prove inefficient they should be demoted.
reduce
They wanted the army reduced to a police force.
lower
Don't lower yourself. Don't be the way they are.
downgrade
His superiors downgraded him.
depose
The president was deposed in a coup.
cashier
unseat
Opposites
raise
,
promote
,
elevate
5 (verb)
Synonyms
adulterate
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
water
doctor
He had administered the sedatives by doctoring the dog's food.
mix
thin
Aspirin thins the blood, letting it flow more easily.
weaken
a glass of whisky weakened with soda
dilute
Dilute the syrup well with cooled, boiled water.
water down
Additional synonyms
in the sense of atrophy
Definition
to waste away
His muscle atrophied, and he had difficulty walking.