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to degrade

to degrade

49 5.1
To make something worse in quality or value
  • verb
  • /dɪˈɡreɪd/
translation icon : empeorar
  • And you know the other thing is that underfunding our colleges really, it really degrades the choice that individuals have in their area too.
  • degrade performance
  • degrade the system
  • degrade the signal

This is going to degrade these American companies.

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Examples

  • We degrade this Parliament at our peril.

  • We have ease of access to things that make you sick, that degrade your health, that degrade your mental health.

  • So in the in the medium term, that might create more bad cops, you know, like it might degrade the quality of the average cop.

  • Like having horrible relationships with people, that degrades the quality of your life.

  • Eliminating or reducing a cell's means of raising and transferring funds will significantly degrade that cell's capabilities.

    Academic text (2008)
  • As a result of the VT shift, data retention time is also degraded, and errors occur.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Exposure to pollution can degrade the quality of the air we breathe.

  • Constant stress can severely degrade your physical and mental well-being.

  • Using low-grade materials will degrade the overall durability of the product.

Synonyms

to diminish
vsto degrade
89 4.7

Make a person or thing seem less important

reduces intrinsic quality or value rather than only reducing reputation
to erode
vsto degrade
83 4.2

Gradually make someone's trust, belief, or support weaker over time

lowers quality or status by direct or immediate action rather than slowly
to downgrade
vsto degrade
43 4.9

To make something lower in rank, value or importance

lowers condition or value in general, not only rank or level
to detract
vsto degrade
32 5.9

Make something seem less good or less valuable

lowers overall grade or condition rather than only removing a part
to devalue
vsto degrade
22 5.0

To make something seem less important or respected

affects grade, status, or condition as a whole rather than only worth
to cheapen
vsto degrade
20 4.3

To make something seem less valuable, often by lowering its price or quality

lowers quality or value broadly rather than focusing mainly on price
to impoverish
vsto degrade
14 6.7

Make a person, community, or land poor

lowers quality or value in many contexts rather than mainly causing poverty
to debase
vsto degrade
7 6.9

To make something worth less by adding cheaper material

lowers quality or status by overall reduction rather than by adding parts
to bastardize
vsto degrade
  • Informal
4 8.2

To make something lower quality by changing it from its original form

reduces quality or value by general lowering rather than impurity
to depreciate
vsto degrade
1 6.5

Make a person or thing seem less important and less valuable

lowers actual quality or condition rather than only social reputation
to dilapidate
vsto degrade
1 8.4

To fall into ruin or cause something to fall into ruin because it is not cared for

lowers condition or value in various ways, not only through neglect
to devaluate
vsto degrade
  • Specialized
7.4

To make something seem less valuable or important

lowers general quality or worth across contexts, not only monetary value

Antonyms

1.0

To make something better

128 3.9

To move something to a higher place or level

Phrasal Verbs

To become worse slowly in a calm, controlled way without sudden failure

How Damaging

to ruin
2.0
to spoil
80 2.8
to degrade
49 5.1
to impair
61 5.1
to diminish
201 3.7

Surface Forms

degrade infinitive
degraded past
degraded past participle
degrading present participle
degrades third person singular

Morphology

degrade = grade (semi-transparent) = de + grade

The connection to lowering a grade or rank is recognizable, but the Latinate prefix is not fully productive for many learners and the sense extends beyond literal grading to general worsening.

Etymology

Degrade comes from the parts de- 'down' and gradus 'step', the same root in grade and graduate. A helpful way to remember it is to think of lowering a 'grade' or step, so to degrade something is to make its quality or value lower.