'Degrade' definitions:
Definition of 'degrade'
From: WordNet
verb
Reduce the level of land, as by erosion [ant: aggrade]
verb
Reduce in worth or character, usually verbally; "She tends to put down younger women colleagues"; "His critics took him down after the lecture" [syn: take down, degrade, disgrace, demean, put down]
verb
Lower the grade of something; reduce its worth [syn: degrade, cheapen]
Definition of 'Degrade'
From: GCIDE
- Degrade \De*grade"\, v. i. (Biol.) To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure; as, a family of plants or animals degrades through this or that genus or group of genera. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Degrade'
From: GCIDE
- Degrade \De*grade"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Degrading.] [F. d['e]grader, LL. degradare, fr. L. de- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree.]
- 1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general officer. [1913 Webster]
- Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar. --Palfrey. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man. [1913 Webster]
- O miserable mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Yet time ennobles or degrades each line. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- Her pride . . . struggled hard against this degrading passion. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Geol.) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
- Syn: To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'degrade'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abase,
- abash,
- adulterate,
- alloy,
- belittle,
- boot,
- bounce,
- break,
- bring down,
- bring into discredit,
- bring low,
- bring shame upon,
- bump,
- bust,
- can,
- canker,
- cashier,
- cast down,
- cast reproach upon,
- cheapen,
- coarsen,
- confound,
- contaminate,
- corrupt,
- crush,
- cry down,
- debase,
- debauch,
- decry,
- defile,
- deflower,
- defrock,
- degenerate,
- demean,
- demerit,
- demote,
- denature,
- deplume,
- depose,
- deprave,
- deprecate,
- depreciate,
- deprive,
- derogate,
- derogate from,
- desecrate,
- despoil,
- detract,
- detract from,
- devalue,
- dilute,
- diminish,
- disapprove of,
- disbar,
- discharge,
- discredit,
- disemploy,
- disenfranchise,
- disfranchise,
- disgrace,
- disgrade,
- dishonor,
- dismiss,
- disparage,
- displace,
- displume,
- distort,
- downgrade,
- drum out,
- dump,
- dump on,
- expel,
- fire,
- furlough,
- give the ax,
- give the gate,
- hold in contempt,
- humble,
- humiliate,
- impute shame to,
- infect,
- kick,
- kick upstairs,
- knock,
- lay off,
- lessen,
- let go,
- let out,
- lower,
- make little of,
- make redundant,
- minimize,
- misuse,
- mortify,
- pension off,
- pervert,
- pillory,
- poison,
- pollute,
- prostitute,
- put down,
- put to shame,
- ravage,
- ravish,
- read out of,
- reduce,
- reflect discredit upon,
- release,
- remove,
- replace,
- reproach,
- retire,
- rule out,
- run down,
- sack,
- separate forcibly,
- set down,
- shame,
- sink,
- slight,
- speak ill of,
- strip,
- strip of rank,
- submit to indignity,
- superannuate,
- surplus,
- suspend,
- taint,
- take down,
- thin,
- trip up,
- turn off,
- turn out,
- twist,
- ulcerate,
- unfrock,
- unseat,
- violate,
- vitiate,
- vulgarize,
- warp,
- water down,
- weaken