1
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
a singing career on the downgrade
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in downhill
a downward slope
the gentle downgrade of the parking area is designed for drainage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to demote
to bring to a lower grade or rank
increased automation resulted in many jobs in the factory being downgraded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to diminish the price or value of
the company's filing for Chapter 11 downgraded the stock to the point where it was selling for pennies a share
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downgrade
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 May 2026
But its low price comes with a downgrade to materials.
—Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 May 2026
Graham Scott, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Borrowing costs are materially higher, credit markets are tighter and Paramount’s debt has already been downgraded by two of the three major rating agencies.
—Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for downgrade
Noun
The dumbphone market is surging among under-30 buyers, with Gen Z framing the downgrade not as nostalgia but as deliberate boundary-setting.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 May 2026
But its low price comes with a downgrade to materials.
—Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 May 2026
Verb
There is little doubt, however, that corners have become a free-for-all and tackles that would have resulted in red cards five years ago are now routinely downgraded to yellows.
—Graham Scott, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Borrowing costs are materially higher, credit markets are tighter and Paramount’s debt has already been downgraded by two of the three major rating agencies.
—Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for downgrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downgrade
Noun
-
The global public square has been getting coarser for years, and social media has played a big part in the deterioration.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
1 June 2026
-
The damage required removal of the affected portion in hopes of preventing further deterioration.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Castle has mixed up playing on and off the ball so that his downhill, slow style could come out when needed.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The morning of the Olympic downhill race was sunny and bright.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Back in 2018, Molitor said demoting Sanó was one of the most difficult decisions of his career.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
As this happened, thousands of Black teachers and principals were dismissed or demoted.—
David Blazar,
The Conversation,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Spirulina helps eliminate heavy metal build-up in the body, for instance; ginger and cumin reduce bloating; lecithin and gingko can improve memory.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Statistically, the drug reduced the risk of death by 60% compared with chemotherapy.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
Why Tomato Leaves Curl Leaves on a tomato plant that roll downward or curl inward indicate there may be a problem with the plant.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
From there, gravity drives the distribution downward through each layer of crops.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
SoftBank Group dropped over 10% amid a broader decline in Asia tech stocks.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
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Consistent short sleep, however, has been linked to measurable declines in cognitive performance and day-to-day functioning, while chronic sleep deprivation is associated with more serious long-term health risks.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The Peninsula swimming pool is among the best in the city; there's no better way to beat the heat in this famously hot capital than by taking a dip right on the river.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
For her, the aftermath of that victory brought heightened anxiety, and searing criticism from outsiders when the Swedish professional’s play took a dip.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
The company’s shares are down 16% year to date as investors worry its businesses are being eaten up by competitors and that Copilot’s user base leaves a lot to be desired.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
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The latest Apple AirPods 3, a small but mighty set of earbuds with impressive sound quality and ergonomic cushioning, are quietly down to $200, while the newest MacBook Air has an impressive $200 discount.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downgrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downgrade. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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