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degrade

de·grade

degrade

 
 
pronunciation:
dih greId
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: degrades, degrading, degraded
definition 1: to bring (someone or something) down in moral or intellectual character; deprave; debase.
The board felt that such risqué literature would degrade the minds of the youth.
synonyms:
corrupt, debase, deprave
antonyms:
uplift
similar words:
debauch, pervert, rot, subvert, taint
definition 2: to bring (someone) down from a higher to a lower rank, degree, status, or the like, esp. to deprive of a position, title, or office.
Because of his disrespectful behavior toward an officer, he was degraded to the rank of private.
synonyms:
bust, demote, downgrade
antonyms:
advance, elevate
similar words:
abase, cashier, defrock, demean, depose, dethrone, dismiss, disparage, lower, remove, unseat
definition 3: to lower in the opinion of others or in self-respect; bring into dishonor or disgrace.
The discovery of his involvement in the scandal degraded him in the eyes of the public.It's honest work, so I don't feel it degrades me to do it.
synonyms:
abase, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, shame, soil
antonyms:
dignify, exalt
similar words:
belittle, defame, deflate, denigrate, dirty, humble, humiliate, taint, tarnish
definition 4: to deplete the natural richness or health of.
Excessive farming of the land degraded the soil.
definition 5: to reduce in value, amount, or intensity.
Rapid inflation degraded the country's currency.
synonyms:
debase, depress, devalue, lower, reduce
similar words:
alloy, deplete, deprecate, depreciate
definition 6: to break down the chemical complexity of (a substance); cause decomposition.
Exposure to hot and cold air will degrade the wood eventually.
synonyms:
decompose
similar words:
decay, rot
definition 7: to wear down (rock) and cause disintegration.
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition: of a substance, to break down or decompose.
The metal will degrade over time.
synonyms:
decompose
similar words:
decay, rot
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