degrade
Strip of dignity
Degrade means to lower in status, quality, or character.
A scandal degrades a politician's reputation.
Harsh conditions degrade materials over time.
To degrade someone is to demean or humiliate them: The hazing ritual was designed to degrade new recruits.
In technical contexts, signals or systems degrade when they deteriorate: The audio quality degrades at higher compression rates.
To make something seem unimportant
- humiliateCause painful shame
- demeanLower in standing
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
diminish · debase · abase · disgrace · dishonor · shame · mortify · embarrass
Decrease or refuse
- worsenBecome more severe
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
erode · corrode · crumble · disintegrate · weaken · degenerate · atrophy · wither
Iron oxide coating
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- pittingForming small cavities
etching · galvanic · electrolysis · reactive · cathodic · anodic · redox · oxidation
Scornful imitation or fake
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- tauntInsulting provocation
- jeerVocal expression of scorn
- scoffMock with disdain
sneer · deride · scorn · slur · affront · offend · snub · patronize
Spoken false defamation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- smearSpread or defame
- libelPrinted defamation
malign · calumniate · traduce · badmouth · besmirch · blacken · mudslinging · character assassination
Assign to inferior position
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- lowerReduce or move downward
- demotionReduction in status
- stripNarrow elongated piece
bump · dethrone · unseat · displace · cashier · bust · downshift
Environmental harm from waste
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- ecosystem collapseTotal breakdown of environmental systems
biodiversity loss · desertification · eutrophication · soil depletion · overfishing · overgrazing · land clearing · carbon footprint
belittle
To make something seem unimportant
denigrate · diminish · debase · abase · disgrace · dishonor · shame · mortify · embarrass · discredit
decline
Decrease or refuse
decompose · erode · corrode · crumble · disintegrate · weaken · degenerate · atrophy · wither · break down
rust
Iron oxide coating
pitting · etching · galvanic · electrolysis · reactive · cathodic · anodic · redox · oxidation · chemical breakdown
mock
Scornful imitation or fake
scoff · sneer · deride · scorn · slur · affront · offend · snub · patronize · condescend
slander
Spoken false defamation
libel · malign · calumniate · traduce · badmouth · besmirch · blacken · mudslinging · character assassination · impugn
relegate
Assign to inferior position
strip · bump · dethrone · unseat · displace · cashier · bust · downshift
pollution
Environmental harm from waste
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
ecosystem collapse · biodiversity loss · desertification · eutrophication · soil depletion · overfishing · overgrazing · land clearing · carbon footprint · environmental damage
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
washout · wearing · attrition · grinding · siltation · soil loss
- deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, decompose, corrode
- degradebelittle, demean, humiliate, debase, diminish
- contemptcontempt, scorn, disdain, despise, derision
- destruction verbsdestroy, demolish, wreck, ruin, smash
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- undermineweaken, erode, sabotage, subvert, destabilize
- graceful degradationMaintaining function while failing
- environmental degradationDecline of natural surroundings
- signal degradationLoss of transmission integrity
- ecological degradationDecline of natural systems
degraded, degrading, degradation, degrades, biodegradable, degradable, degradations, degrader, degraders