degrading
Use Degrading in a sentence
dɪŋ adjective
that degrades; debasing; humiliating: degrading submission.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used with object)
1.
to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt: He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.
2.
to lower in character or quality; debase.
3.
to reduce (someone) to a lower rank, degree, etc.; deprive of office, rank, status, or title, especially as a punishment: degraded from director to assistant director.
4.
to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.
5.
Physical Geography. to wear down by erosion, as hills. Compare aggrade.
6.
Chemistry. to break down (a compound, especially an organic hydrocarbon).
verb (used without object)
7.
to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.
8.
Chemistry. (especially of an organic hydrocarbon compound) to break down or decompose.
Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English degraden < Late Latin dēgradāre, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + grad(us) grade + -āre infinitive suffix
1275–1325; Middle English degraden < Late Latin dēgradāre, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + grad(us) grade + -āre infinitive suffix
Related forms
de·grad·er, noun
Synonyms
1. disgrace, dishonor, discredit. See humble. 2. abase, vitiate. 3. demote, depose, downgrade, lower, cashier, break.
1. disgrace, dishonor, discredit. See humble. 2. abase, vitiate. 3. demote, depose, downgrade, lower, cashier, break.
Antonyms
1, 2. exalt. 3. promote.
1, 2. exalt. 3. promote.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To degrading
00:10
Degrading
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
degrade (dɪˈɡreɪd) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (tr) to reduce in worth, character, etc; disgrace; dishonour |
| 2. | (tr) to reduce in rank, status, or degree; remove from office; demote |
| 3. | (tr) to reduce in strength, quality, intensity, etc |
| 4. | Compare aggrade to reduce or be reduced by erosion or down-cutting, as a land surface or bed of a river |
| 5. | chem to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules |
| [C14: from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin | |
| de'grader | |
| —n | |
| degrading (dɪˈɡreɪdɪŋ) | |
| —adj | |
| causing humiliation; debasing | |
| de'gradingly | |
| —adv | |
| de'gradingness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
degrade
early 14c., from O.Fr. degrader (12c.), from des- "down" + L. gradus "step" (see grade).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Apple says it does this to prevent random programs from sucking down your battery and degrading your phone's performance.
Prolonged, agonising deaths in which a patient's personality and sense of self-worth disintegrate can be degrading.
The right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is not one of these.
Tourism can contribute to preserving your locale-or to degrading it.
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