1
as in to reduce
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
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2
as in to deteriorate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume
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3
as in to humiliate
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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of degrade
Trump’s tough-man act did more harm than good degrading relations with key allies in the West and East and diminished U.S. standing in the world.
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Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Cardboard boxes degrade over time: Whether due to pests, moisture, or general wear and tear, cardboard is quick to deteriorate.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024
In the case of the new study, benzoyl peroxide can degrade into benzene.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 17 Oct. 2024
It’s been nearly 25 years since the U.S. government stopped purposefully degrading GPS signals, allowing citizens to pinpoint locations more accurately.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for degrade 
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Cardboard boxes degrade over time: Whether due to pests, moisture, or general wear and tear, cardboard is quick to deteriorate.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024
In the case of the new study, benzoyl peroxide can degrade into benzene.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 17 Oct. 2024
It’s been nearly 25 years since the U.S. government stopped purposefully degrading GPS signals, allowing citizens to pinpoint locations more accurately.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for degrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degrade
Verb
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Opened in 1956, Sunnyvale High School, the city’s second public high school, worked to achieve collaboration between students and educators, aiming to reduce violence and enrich the curriculum during the interracial tension that marked the 1960s and ’70s.Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Roofing contractors said good roofs with years of life left are being replaced ahead of schedule to allow insurers to reduce their risk going forward.Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
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After all, fast-changing technology has been one of the drivers of deteriorating trust.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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But the recommendations were not followed, and the property continued to deteriorate.Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Then, last year, the 49ers humiliated Dallas by the score of 42-10 at home.Vincent Frank, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
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Shaking down Bodhi, killing some bikers, jokingly humiliating his ex-girlfriend on the witness stand — less than ideal, but nothing you’re not supposed to be able to live with.Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Don't miss these Bayside police hired a sheriff's lieutenant who was demoted and suspended.Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 16 Oct. 2024
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Knack was having a solid rookie season but had been demoted back to triple-A. Once others started going down because of injuries, however, both right-handed pitchers reentered the equation.Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Such a test would be a sign of China’s weakening influence over Pyongyang and could spur Seoul to try to acquire nuclear weapons of its own—a position that both South Korea and the United States officially oppose but is gaining traction in Western policy circles.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
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With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But on Monday, defense attorney Andrew Baldwin sought to discredit Weber by pointing out inconsistencies in his statements to police.Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
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Trump has spent much of his final week on the campaign trail baselessly trying to discredit the legitimacy of this year’s election.Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Because of the decentralized electoral system, an individual state does have the power to delay or subvert the process of appointing electors—perhaps by alleging voting irregularities—even in the event of a clear popular-vote victory for a certain candidate in that state.Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
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René Magritte is best known for his Surrealist masterpieces like The Son of Man (1964), which bend reality and subvert expectations.Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Once again, get ready to avoid embarrassing the CFO.Martha Amram, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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The Bears lost in humiliating fashion on Sunday, but a player's behavior late in the game has embarrassed fans more than the actual loss. Driving the news: With the Bears one play away from victory, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was caught taunting the D.C. crowd.Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Degrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degrade. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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