51Թ

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View synonyms for

degrade

[ dih-greyd dee-greyd ]

verb (used with object)

degraded, degrading.
  1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt:

    He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to lower in character or quality; debase.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  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: , , , , ,

    Antonyms:

  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)

degraded, degrading.
  1. to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.
  2. Chemistry. (especially of an organic hydrocarbon compound) to break down or decompose.

degrade

/ ɪˈɡɪ /

verb

  1. tr to reduce in worth, character, etc; disgrace; dishonour
  2. 徱ːˈɡɪ 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ·İ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of degrade1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English degraden, from Late Latin ŧ, from Latin ŧ- de- + grad(us) “step, rank, progress” ( grade ) + -, infinitive verb suffix
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of degrade1

C14: from Late Latin ŧ, from Latin de- + gradus rank, degree
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Synonym Study

See humble.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Thimerosal degrades into ethylmercury, which was judged not to be a danger at the level that would come from a vaccine.

From

"Tate began verbally degrading Plaintiff as he routinely did - but this time it was much worse, more aggressive, and more violent," the lawsuit states.

From

Without social security, Medicaid, Medicare, labor protections, or workplace safety regulations, employers gain leverage over workers who face little choice but to accept dangerous, degrading work.

From

“Tate began verbally degrading Plaintiff as he routinely did — but this time it was much worse, more aggressive, and more violent. Tate then began to choke Plaintiff.”

From

There is no “climate crisis,” he argues, but a crisis of human thinking and behavior that’s degrading the soil, wiping out entire species, and changing the weather faster than people can adapt.

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