degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən 
1
: the act or process of degrading
environmental degradation
the gradual degradation of organic matter
… nothing infuriates the female students more than the degradation of women that is associated with male sports …—
Scott Stossel
Scott Stosselsuffer the degradations of poverty and abuse
2
a
: decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state
shocked by the hopeless degradation of the "poor whites"—Edith Wharton
Edith WhartonSome houses are found spotless, others in a wretched degradation …—Paul Reyes
Paul Reyes
b
: moral or intellectual decadence : degeneration
educated him in the bestiality and degradation that war brings—Drew Middleton
Drew MiddletonSynonyms
Examples of degradation in a Sentence
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about.
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump has ordered his administration to maximize water flows from the delta and expedite potential exemptions to the Endangered Species Act, allowing the Bureau of Reclamation to send more water southward without concern for habitat degradation.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
When left unchecked, mass tourism can cause environmental and cultural degradation, displace locals, and strain infrastructure and resources.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
Pumping to supply farms and cities has contributed to the ecological degradation of the Delta, where the fish species that are listed as threatened or endangered include steelhead trout, two types of Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, delta smelt and green sturgeon.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
The defects involve the degradation of each model's 12-volt batteries, which can fail unexpectedly.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for degradation 
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Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
When left unchecked, mass tourism can cause environmental and cultural degradation, displace locals, and strain infrastructure and resources.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
Pumping to supply farms and cities has contributed to the ecological degradation of the Delta, where the fish species that are listed as threatened or endangered include steelhead trout, two types of Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, delta smelt and green sturgeon.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
The defects involve the degradation of each model's 12-volt batteries, which can fail unexpectedly.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for degradation
Dictionary Entries Near degradation
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degradation. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
1
a
: a reduction in rank, dignity, or standing
b
: removal from office
2
: loss of honor or reputation
Medical Definition
degradation
noun
deg·ra·da·tion
ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən
: change of a chemical compound to a less complex compound
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