Thesaurus: degrade

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Definitions

1. v. t. 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.
2. v. t. 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.
3. v. t. To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
4. v. i. 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.
5. v. reduce the level of land, as by erosion
6. v. reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
7. v. lower the grade of something; reduce its worth
8. 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. Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar. Palfrey. 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. O miserable mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! Milton. He pride . . . struggled hard against this degrading passion. Macaulay. 3. (Geol.) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down. Syn. -- To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase. 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.
9. To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; towear down.
10. v:100 v. reduce the level of land, as by erosion v. lower the grade of something; reduce its worth