Definitions

degrade

[dih-greyd, dee-greyd] / dɪˈgreɪd, diˈgreɪd /

VERB

shame, humiliate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cheapen corrupt debase degenerate demean deteriorate diminish discredit disgrace downgrade impair lessen reduce vitiate weaken

STRONG

abase belittle bench break bump bust canker debauch decry demote depose deprave derogate detract disbar dishonor disparage humble injure lower pan pervert sink slam

WEAK

bemean cast down cut down to size declass mudsling put down rule out run down shoot down take down take down a peg tear down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist develop enhance enlarge expand extend grow help honor improve increase praise purify raise strengthen upgrade

STRONG

build up compliment exalt fix flatter laud mend promote rise

WEAK

admire approve elevate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A post-war environment with Iran degraded creates the conditions to go further, with joint infrastructure, integrated financial markets and a technology corridor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Traditional storage technologies such as magnetic drives or electronic systems tend to degrade within a few years.

From Science Daily

As a result, proteins are not properly degraded, which can lead to the death of nerve cells.

From Science Daily

For weeks, the US and Israel have insisted that Iran's military capacity has been severely degraded.

From BBC

The targeting clearly shows a strategy to degrade the regime’s apparatus of repression, but risks harming the very prisoners it is intended to empower, analysts said.

From The Wall Street Journal

degrade

Example Sentences

Related Words