degraded

adjective

de·​grad·​ed di-ˈgrā-dəd 

dē-

1

: reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct

2

: characterized by degeneration of structure or function

degradedly adverb

Synonyms

• corrupt
• debased
• debauched
• decadent
• degenerate
• demoralized
• depraved
• dissipated
• dissolute
• jackleg
• libertine
• loose
• perverse
• perverted
• rakehell
• rakehelly
• rakish
• reprobate
• sick
• unclean
• unwholesome
• warped

Examples of degraded in a Sentence

many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration

Recent Examples on the Web

The plan includes 124 projects designed to dredge sand, rebuild degraded marshes, and add levees, floodgates and storm surge barriers. —Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025

Apple spent years ignoring RCS, allowing iPhones to offer a degraded messaging experience with Android users. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025

Figure 4 shows an example of a daytime camera image in degraded visibility conditions, of a 1 m wide buoy at a range of 2 nautical miles (3.6 miles). —Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

There has also been a growing emphasis on preserving existing vegetation and restoring degraded grasslands—often more effective than planting new trees in desert-prone regions. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for degraded

• abraded
• arcaded
• blockaded
• brocaded
• cascaded
• dissuaded
• downgraded
• evaded
• invaded
• paraded
• persuaded
• pervaded