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
Refrigeration can slow down the degradation of certain products, keeping them good-to-use just a little bit longer.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
Despite the degradation caused by the passage of time and human activity, investigations enabled the identification of the ship's type, dimensions, construction method, the most likely construction date and remnants of its cargo.
—Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Withdrawals of water by the massive pumps that feed the systems have contributed to the ecological degradation of the Delta and San Francisco Bay, where threatened and endangered fish species include steelhead trout, two types of Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, Delta smelt and green sturgeon.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent developments in the region, including the weakening of Iran, the longtime backer of the terrorist group, the degradation of Hezbollah and the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, also contributed to the compromise by Hamas, the senior Biden administration official said.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for degradation 
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.
Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
Despite the degradation caused by the passage of time and human activity, investigations enabled the identification of the ship's type, dimensions, construction method, the most likely construction date and remnants of its cargo.
—Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Withdrawals of water by the massive pumps that feed the systems have contributed to the ecological degradation of the Delta and San Francisco Bay, where threatened and endangered fish species include steelhead trout, two types of Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, Delta smelt and green sturgeon.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent developments in the region, including the weakening of Iran, the longtime backer of the terrorist group, the degradation of Hezbollah and the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, also contributed to the compromise by Hamas, the senior Biden administration official said.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
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 20 Jan. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share