English-English Dictionary

Meaning of the word degrade in English

What does degrade mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

degrade

US /dɪˈɡreɪd/
UK /dɪˈɡreɪd/
"degrade" picture

Verb

1.

treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect

Example:
•
It's wrong to degrade people based on their appearance.
•
The constant criticism began to degrade her self-esteem.
Synonym:
humiliatedemeanbelittledisparageabase
2.

break down or deteriorate chemically

Example:
•
Plastic bags can take hundreds of years to degrade.
•
The old wooden fence began to degrade after years of exposure to the elements.
Synonym:
decomposebreak downdeteriorateerodecorrode
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