Library / English Dictionary

DEGRADE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lower the grade of something; reduce its worth

Synonyms:

cheapen; degrade

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "degrade" is one way to...):

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen (make worse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "degrade"):

devaluate; devalue (remove the value from; deprive of its value)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

degradation (changing to a lower state (a less respected state))

degradation (a low or downcast state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reduce the level of land, as by erosion

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

aggrade (build up to a level by depositing sediment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

Example:

His critics took him down after the lecture

Synonyms:

degrade; demean; disgrace; put down; take down

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "degrade" is one way to...):

abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify (cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "degrade"):

reduce (lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation)

dehumanise; dehumanize (deprive of human qualities)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

degradation (changing to a lower state (a less respected state))

degradation (a low or downcast state)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This research suggests that when nitrate is abundant, a change occurs in the microbial community in salt marsh sediments that increases the microbes' capacity to degrade organic matter.

(Salt marshes' capacity to store carbon may be threatened by nitrogen pollution, National Science Foundation)

In addition to enabling the delivery of drugs to tumors, the nanogels can target malignant cells and degrade into nontoxic components.

(Novel nanogels hold promise for improved drug delivery to cancer patients, National Science Foundation)

The F box complex that degrades E2F-1 contains components shared with the complexes that target other cell cycle factors for degradation.

(E2F1 Degradation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The siRNA is incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which targets and degrades the homologous mRNA.

(Dicer Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The silicon, which was designed to degrade, released pDox molecules at the tumor site.

(Injectable nanoparticles deliver cancer therapy in mice, NIH)

The idea that sunlight degrades plastics is nothing new, Ward says.

(Sunlight degrades polystyrene faster than expected, National Science Foundation)

Amilomer, a product produced by partially hydrolyzing starch and epichlorohydrin, contains degradable starch microspheres (DSM) with a diameter size of 45 micrometers that are readily degraded by amylase.

(Amilomer, NCI Thesaurus)

Organic material quickly degrades when exposed to heat, light and oxygen.

(Extinct Caribbean bird yields DNA after 2,500 years in watery grave, National Science Foundation)

But it's these very uses that are degrading the ecological, socioeconomic and scientific value of many ancient lakes.

(Ancient lakes: eyes into the past, and the future, National Science Foundation)

Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)