degraded
adjective
de·grad·ed di-ˈgrā-dəd 
dē-
1
: reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct
2
: characterized by degeneration of structure or function
degradedly adverb
Synonyms
- corrupt
- debased
- debauched
- decadent
- degenerate
- demoralized
- depraved
- dissipated
- dissolute
- jackleg
- libertine
- loose
- perverse
- perverted
- rakehell
- rakehelly
- rakish
- reprobate
- sick
- unclean
- unwholesome
- warped
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration
Recent Examples on the Web The Bonn Challenge, a partnership between Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, aims to restore 860 million acres of degraded and deforested land by 2030, largely by increasing tree cover. 
Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 Children and young adults are among the most vulnerable populations to climate change, and many hallmarks of the crisis, including extreme heat and degraded air quality, have been shown to make learning in schools more difficult. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022 The degraded tracks were flagged two months ago in a report by the Federal Transit Administration, which is conducting a nearly-unprecedented safety review of the T. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 But as ProPublica and many others have shown, the ways in which private equity goes about this restructuring can raise a number of concerns, over such things as layoffs and furloughs for employees and degraded services for customers. Chris Morran, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2022 The landscapers removed the degraded grass entirely and then prepped and seeded. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2022 Poseidon plans to restore a total of 125 acres of degraded coastal wetlands to a more natural state at two separate sites in the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in South San Diego Bay, as a way of mitigating the plant’s impact on the environment. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 The perception of grasslands as degraded landscapes has largely kept them off international conservation agendas, says Karina Berg at the World Wide Fund for Nature. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 The more degraded actual life becomes on earth, the more fervently conservatives will fight to protect potential life in utero. Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 16 July 2022 See More
Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 Children and young adults are among the most vulnerable populations to climate change, and many hallmarks of the crisis, including extreme heat and degraded air quality, have been shown to make learning in schools more difficult. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022 The degraded tracks were flagged two months ago in a report by the Federal Transit Administration, which is conducting a nearly-unprecedented safety review of the T. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 But as ProPublica and many others have shown, the ways in which private equity goes about this restructuring can raise a number of concerns, over such things as layoffs and furloughs for employees and degraded services for customers. Chris Morran, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2022 The landscapers removed the degraded grass entirely and then prepped and seeded. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2022 Poseidon plans to restore a total of 125 acres of degraded coastal wetlands to a more natural state at two separate sites in the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in South San Diego Bay, as a way of mitigating the plant’s impact on the environment. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 The perception of grasslands as degraded landscapes has largely kept them off international conservation agendas, says Karina Berg at the World Wide Fund for Nature. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 The more degraded actual life becomes on earth, the more fervently conservatives will fight to protect potential life in utero. Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 16 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1
degraded 1 of 2
adjective
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- corrupt
- sick
- debased
- degenerate
- dissipated
- warped
- demoralized
- perverted
- loose
- debauched
- depraved
- spoiled
- decadent
- crooked
- dissolute
- unclean
- unwholesome
- reprobate
- dishonest
- libertine
- vicious
- perverse
- rakish
- contaminated
- bad
- immoral
- wicked
- tainted
- evil
- rakehell
- bent
- unprincipled
- unscrupulous
- rakehelly
- unethical
- cutthroat
- jackleg
- sinful
- iniquitous
- miscreant
- nefarious
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pure
- uncorrupted
- uncorrupt
- incorruptible
- good
- virtuous
- honest
- moral
- ethical
- righteous
- principled
degraded
2 of 2verb
1
as in reduced
to bring to a lower grade or rank the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care Synonyms & Similar Words
- reduced
- demoted
- downgraded
- dismissed
- busted
- sacked
- debased
- disrated
- humiliated
- demeaned
- bust
- laid off
- downsized
- canned
- fired
- broke
- cashiered
- humbled
- abased
- lowered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- promoted
- advanced
- raised
- elevated
- hired
2
as in deteriorated
to lower in character, dignity, or quality degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume Synonyms & Similar Words
- deteriorated
- corrupted
- humiliated
- weakened
- debased
- demeaned
- damaged
- destroyed
- poisoned
- diluted
- subverted
- ruined
- debauched
- perverted
- depraved
- polluted
- bastardized
- disgraced
- cheapened
- cankered
- demoralized
- warped
- abased
- vitiated
- prostituted
- contaminated
- impaired
- lessened
- marred
- profaned
- shamed
- tainted
- thinned
- dirtied
- wrecked
- harmed
- humbled
- hurt
- defiled
- dishonored
- begrimed
- spoiled
- befouled
- tarnished
- stained
- flawed
- defaced
- watered down
- blemished
- downgraded
- depreciated
- spoilt
- descended
- took down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- improved
- elevated
- uplifted
- enhanced
- enriched
- ennobled
- exalted
- restored
- ameliorated
- honored
- refined
- amended
- dignified
- purified
- cleaned
- perfected
- bettered
- cleansed
- meliorated
- clarified
- respected
3
as in humiliated
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field Synonyms & Similar Words
- humiliated
- discredited
- embarrassed
- debased
- demeaned
- disgraced
- shamed
- confused
- insulted
- humbled
- dishonored
- cheapened
- diminished
- smirched
- abased
- chastened
- rattled
- lowered
- fouled
- criticized
- ridiculed
- sunk
- disparaged
- mortified
- took down
- minimized
- maligned
- detracted
- flustered
- disconcerted
- slandered
- belittled
- discomfited
- depreciated
- sank
- condemned
- discounted
- abashed
- confounded
- defiled
- defamed
- nonplussed
- discountenanced
- decried
- affronted
- libeled
- fazed
- castigated
- denounced
- execrated
- nonplused
- censured
- damned
- wrote off
- bad-mouthed
- put down
- libelled
- reprehended
- cried down
- reprobated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- elevated
- exalted
- recognized
- deified
- complimented
- praised
- honored
- acknowledged
- extolled
- applauded
- aggrandized
- lauded
- cheered
- decorated
- cited
- celebrated
- boasted
- feted
- commended
- canonized
- saluted
- hailed
- touted
- promoted
- acclaimed
- eulogized
- ennobled
- magnified
- congratulated
- upgraded
- highlighted
- glorified
- advanced
- uplifted
- boosted
- dignified
- enshrined
- spotlighted
- lifted
- idealized
- raised
- fêted
- enthroned
- romanticized
- spotlit
- played up
- enskied