degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən 
1
: the act or process of degrading
environmental degradation
the gradual degradation of organic matter
… nothing infuriates the female students more than the degradation of women that is associated with male sports …—
Scott Stossel
Scott Stosselsuffer the degradations of poverty and abuse
2
a
: decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state
shocked by the hopeless degradation of the "poor whites"—Edith Wharton
Edith WhartonSome houses are found spotless, others in a wretched degradation …—Paul Reyes
Paul Reyes
b
: moral or intellectual decadence : degeneration
educated him in the bestiality and degradation that war brings—Drew Middleton
Drew MiddletonSynonyms
Examples of degradation in a Sentence
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about.
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
Recent Examples on the Web
Ozone is also susceptible to degradation by human activities, however.
—Max Springer, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Over the past decade, researchers have documented the degradation of plastics and the release of chemicals from plastic polymers and additives in plastics and microplastics.
—Laodong Guo, The Conversation, 25 June 2024
The angry personal denunciations coming from the Biden camp are designed to distract from his relentless criticism of the ethical degradation of corrupt politics in Washington.
—David Marks, Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2024
This classification signifies a population decline of over 80 percent, primarily due to habitat degradation and invasive species.
—Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for degradation 
Max Springer, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Over the past decade, researchers have documented the degradation of plastics and the release of chemicals from plastic polymers and additives in plastics and microplastics.
—Laodong Guo, The Conversation, 25 June 2024
The angry personal denunciations coming from the Biden camp are designed to distract from his relentless criticism of the ethical degradation of corrupt politics in Washington.
—David Marks, Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2024
This classification signifies a population decline of over 80 percent, primarily due to habitat degradation and invasive species.
—Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for degradation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'degradation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near degradation
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degradation. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
1
a
: a reduction in rank, dignity, or standing
b
: removal from office
2
: loss of honor or reputation
Medical Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
: change of a chemical compound to a less complex compound
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