EN

Synonyms for degrade

  • verb

Most common

demean reduce disgrace humiliate

All synonyms

Verb

1. Demean — to lower in value or social position

demean, reduce, disgrace, humiliate, diminish, discredit, lessen, deteriorate, depreciate, lower, cheapen, devalue, vitiate, sink, take down, worsen, belittle, break, minimize, minimise UK, make little of, deprecate, dishonor US, dishonour UK

Antonyms

dignify, exalt, elevate

All antonyms of degrade →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To lower in value or social position.

    Fred degrades himself by his behaviour.

Related words

Word family
degradation degradement degrader

Forms

Past participle
degraded
e.g. degraded → demeaned, reduced, disgraced, humiliated…

Choose the right word

Degrade, Degraded, Reduced, Disgraced or Degrading?

Degrade may refer to either station or character. An officer is degraded by being reduced to the ranks, disgraced by cowardice; vile practises degrade; drunkenness is a degrading vice.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • diminish This doesn't give him the right to diminish Muslims.
  • discredit Tom can't believe Mary is trying to discredit him.
  • humiliate Yuri didn't want Martha to humiliate him again.
  • demean I didn't mean to demean you.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
degraderising
diminishsteady
discreditsteady
humiliaterising
demeanrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
sink1
5 letters
break1, lower2
6 letters
reduce2, lessen2, worsen2, demean2
7 letters
devalue3, cheapen2, vitiate3
8 letters
minimize3, disgrace2, diminish3, minimise, belittle3, dishonor3
9 letters
discredit3, humiliate4, dishonour, deprecate3
10 letters
depreciate4
11 letters
deteriorate5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lower2 = 2 syllables).