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

Examples of degraded in a Sentence

many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration

Recent Examples on the Web

Tragically, the Chesapeake remains significantly degraded and its overall water quality has improved only marginally after 41 years. —Gerald Winegrad, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2025

Against the backdrop of a degraded web, the improbable success of a volunteer-run website attempting to gather all the world’s knowledge is something to celebrate, not destroy. —Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025

Microplastics are tiny fragments of degraded polymers that are found in the environment, including our air, water and soil, a news release explained. —Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025

Microplastics are plastics that are less than 5mm in size that may have started that small or are now the degraded pieces of larger plastic objects. —Michelle Greenwald, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for degraded

• abraded
• arcaded
• blockaded
• brocaded
• cascaded
• dissuaded
• downgraded
• evaded
• invaded
• paraded
• persuaded
• pervaded