degrade
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for degrade, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To lower someone's dignity or status; to humiliate.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
aggrade
How to use degrade
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
degrade the environment
degrade someone's dignity
Etymology
From Middle French dégrader, from Latin dē- ("down") + gradus ("step, rank").
Full origin of degrade →Frequently asked questions
What does “degrade” mean?
The word “degrade” means to lower someone's dignity or status; to humiliate. In plain terms, to bring something or someone down in quality, condition, or status.
How do you pronounce “degrade”?
“Degrade” is pronounced dih-GRAYD (/dɪˈɡɹeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “degrade” in a sentence?
Here is “degrade” used in a sentence: “The harsh comments were meant to degrade her in front of colleagues.”
What part of speech is “degrade”?
“Degrade” is a verb.
Where does the word “degrade” come from?
The word “degrade” comes from Latin. From Middle French dégrader, from Latin dē- ("down") + gradus ("step, rank").
Is “degrade” a common word?
“Degrade” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “degrade” have?
“Degrade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to lower someone's dignity or status; to humiliate.
