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degrade

verb de·grade \di-ˈgrād, dē-\

: to treat (someone or something) poorly and without respect

: to make the quality of (something) worse

: to cause (something complex) to break down into simple substances or parts

Full Definition of DEGRADE

transitive verb

a : to lower in grade, rank, or status : demote

b : to strip of rank or honors

c : to lower to an inferior or less effective level <degrade the image quality>

d : to scale down in desirability or salability

a : to bring to low esteem or into disrepute <his actions have degraded his profession>

b : to drag down in moral or intellectual character : corrupt

: to impair in respect to some physical property <material degraded by exposure to sunlight>

: to wear down by erosion

: to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) : decompose

intransitive verb

: to pass from a higher grade or class to a lower

of a chemical compound : to become reduced in complexity

— de·grad·er noun

— de·grad·ing·ly \-ˈgrā-diŋ-lē\ adverb

See degrade defined for English-language learners

See degrade defined for kids

Origin of DEGRADE

Middle English, from Anglo-French degrader, from Late Latin degradare, from Latin de- + gradus step, grade — more at grade

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DEGRADE

Synonyms: break, bust, demote, disrate, downgrade, reduce

Antonyms: advance, elevate, promote, raise

Rhymes with DEGRADE

abrade, afraid, air raid, arcade, Band-Aid, barmaid, Belgrade, blockade, bondmaid, bridesmaid, brigade, brocade, cascade, charade, clichéd, cockade, corrade, cross-trade, crusade, decade, dissuade, downgrade, evade, eyeshade, fair-trade, first aid, glissade, grenade, handmade, homemade, housemaid, inlaid, invade, limeade, low-grade, man-made, mermaid, milkmaid, navaid, nightshade, nursemaid, old maid, parade, persuade, pervade, plain-laid, pomade, postpaid, sacheted, scalade, sea-maid, self-made, stockade, sunshade, switchblade, torsade, twayblade, twice-laid, unbraid, unlade, unmade, unpaid, upbraid, upgrade

DEGRADE Defined for Kids

degrade

verb de·grade \di-ˈgrād\

de·grad·edde·grad·ing

Definition of DEGRADE for Kids

: to lower in character or dignity <Mom feels that dressing animals in costumes degrades them.>

: to break down or separate into simpler parts or substances <Bacteria will degrade the spilled pollutant.>

: to reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree <He was degraded to a private by his commander.>

Word Root of DEGRADE

The Latin word gradus, meaning “step” or “degree,” gives us the root grad. Words from the Latin gradus have something to do with steps. Anything gradual happens slowly one step at a time. To degrade is to reduce from a higher to a lower degree. A grade is a step in school made up of one year of work. Even the word degree itself has gradus as its root.

Medical Dictionary

degrade

transitive verb de·grade \di-ˈgrād\

de·grad·edde·grad·ing

Medical Definition of DEGRADE

: to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) by splitting off one or more groups or larger components : decompose <cellulose is degraded by the action of some bacteria>

intransitive verb

: to undergo chemical degradation