degraded

1 of 2

adjective

Synonyms of degradednext
1
: reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct
2
: characterized by degeneration of structure or function
degradedly adverb

degraded

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of degrade

Synonyms of degraded

Examples of degraded in a Sentence

Adjective many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Design choices previously thought to boost power, such as widening the gap between electrodes, actually degraded performance under true operating conditions. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Initially, Pike’s attorneys and several death penalty experts raised the possibility that the drugs may have been too old or degraded to work as intended. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026 But detailed summaries of the punishments obtained by The New York Times provide the first look at how Cornell administrators apportioned blame for the alcohol and drug-fueled gathering that the woman has said left her shattered and degraded. — Sharon Otterman, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Her organization supplies useful trees, restores degraded land while improving biodiversity. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for degraded

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of degraded was in 1643

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Degraded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degraded. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!