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to downgrade

to downgrade

43 4.9
To make something lower in rank, value or importance
  • verb
  • /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/
translation icon : rebajar
  • Jared Kushner has had his security clearance downgraded from top Secret to secret.
  • downgrade relations
  • downgrade diplomatic relations
  • downgrade the rating

Well, he's going to downgrade his bank account in doing so, right?

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Examples

  • The US Army Corps of Engineers downgraded its interpretation of what waterways receive Clean Water Act protections.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Moody's has downgraded the US credit rating from AAA to AA.

  • Besides, they downgrade property values.

  • At the same time, President Bush continued to downgrade relations with China.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Well, he's going to downgrade his bank account in doing so, right?

  • The other option here is you downgrade that to a standard Lloyds Bank account.

  • Unfortunately, the latest report has downgraded the Great Barrier Reef from being in poor health to very poor health.

  • Moody's and the S&P have downgraded Korea's credit rating once again.

  • Meanwhile, Turkey's macroeconomic health alarmed credit-rating agencies enough to cause them to downgrade Turkey's credit in early 1994.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The latest news has led analysts to downgrade the economic outlook for the upcoming year.

Synonyms

to lower
vsto downgrade
802 1.0

Make something go down in position, amount, or strength

refers specifically to lowering status, rank, or importance
to reduce
vsto downgrade
162 2.1

To make something weaker or in a worse state

is broader and covers formal lowering of rank or importance
to diminish
vsto downgrade
89 4.7

Make a person or thing seem less important

is the broader action of reducing rank, value, or importance
to bring down
vsto downgrade
89 3.0

Make an amount or level lower

is specifically about lowering grade, rank, value, or importance
to downplay
vsto downgrade
59 5.3

Show something as less important or serious than it is

is a broader reduction in grade, rank, or overall importance
to demean
vsto downgrade
53 6.8

To make someone feel less respected or important

targets rank or importance reduction rather than personal insult
to degrade
vsto downgrade
49 5.1

To make something worse in quality or value

covers lowering rank or value rather than quality change
to demote
vsto downgrade
37 5.6

To move someone to a lower job or rank because they did not do well

applies more generally to lowering level, rank, or value
to relegate
vsto downgrade
36 6.8

Move someone to a lower job or position as punishment

is broader, covering lower rank, value, or importance
to devalue
vsto downgrade
22 5.0

To make something seem less important or respected

focuses on lowering rank or importance in many possible ways
to deflate
vsto downgrade
20 4.6

To make someone feel less confident or important

refers to an objective lowering in rank, value, or importance
to undervalue
vsto downgrade
8 4.8

Think something or someone is less important than they really are

is an active lowering of grade or status rather than misjudgement
to debase
vsto downgrade
7 6.9

To make something worth less by adding cheaper material

focuses on lowering level or importance rather than mixing materials
to deemphasize
vsto downgrade
  • US
2 5.9

Make an idea or topic seem less important

implies an actual lowering of level, rank, or value rather than emphasis change
to downscale
vsto downgrade
1 4.3

Make something smaller or cheaper to save money

is focused on lowering status or importance rather than scale
to depreciate
vsto downgrade
1 6.5

Make a person or thing seem less important and less valuable

is a wider act of reducing level, rank, or importance
to declass
vsto downgrade
  • Archaic
8.4

To lower someone's social or official status

is the more general act of lowering rank or importance
to disvalue
vsto downgrade
8.4

To treat something as not worth much or make it worth less

is an active lowering of rank or value rather than mere opinion

Antonyms

177 3.5

To make something newer or better, for example a phone

23 3.6

To give someone a higher job or rank

How Reduced

to demote
37 5.6
to devalue
22 5.0
to downgrade
43 4.9
to diminish
201 3.7
to belittle
45 5.0
to discount
75 4.2

Surface Forms

downgrade infinitive
downgraded past
downgraded past participle
downgrading present participle
downgrades third person singular

Morphology

downgrade = grade (transparent) = down + grade

The verb is formed by adding the prefix 'down-' (indicating reduction) to the verb 'grade', yielding 'to reduce in grade or status', which is semantically regular.

Etymology

To downgrade comes from down and grade, with grade meaning 'step' or 'level', like a school grade. So to downgrade someone or something is to move them 'down a level' or treat them as 'less important'.