1
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about
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2
as in corruption
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
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Recent Examples of degradation
As Daniel notes, the longer first stint on the inverse tire strategy didn’t pay off to try and close the gap with a tire delta late on, as the race’s low tire degradation significantly reduced this possibility.
—
Luke Smith, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
This is, in part, about the degradation, devaluation, and replacement of writers.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate volatility have become immediate operational threats.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Yes, seed oils are more prone to oxidation (and, therefore, degradation and loss of nutritional value) than beef tallow or butter, says Berry.
—Lisa Niven-Phillips, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Luke Smith, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
This is, in part, about the degradation, devaluation, and replacement of writers.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate volatility have become immediate operational threats.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Yes, seed oils are more prone to oxidation (and, therefore, degradation and loss of nutritional value) than beef tallow or butter, says Berry.
—Lisa Niven-Phillips, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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Submersible visits over the years have shown an increase in its deterioration, with rust and microorganisms eating away at the ship's metal. Dives over more than a decade have shown the ship is falling apart.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
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That could mean that rate cuts are pushed off until much later this year or even delayed until next year if that deterioration takes time to materialize.—
Colby Smith,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Trump administration is substantially scaling back the State Department's annual reports on international human rights to remove longstanding critiques of abuses such as harsh prison conditions, government corruption and restrictions on participation in the political process, NPR has learned.—
Graham Smith,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
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Thao has since been indicted for bribery and corruption.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is a result of a profit-first capitalist system in crisis in the epoch of imperialism’s decline.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
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Gold’s warning What’s more, the spike in gold prices this year has continued to signal a risk-off mentality among investors, as gold tends to rally during periods of decline in stocks.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The sun's changing declination is what determines whether the sun's rays strike us at a low angle or more directly.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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