degraded
Reduced in quality
Degraded describes something reduced in quality, status, or condition.
A degraded environment has suffered damage or deterioration.
A degraded signal has lost strength or clarity.
When applied to people, degraded suggests being lowered in dignity or reduced to a shameful state: She felt degraded by the way they treated her.
In technical contexts, degraded systems or materials have lost functionality or structural integrity.
Caused loss of dignity
- debasedReduced in worth
- belittledMade to seem insignificant
- shamedMade to feel disgrace
- disgracedBrought into shame
dishonored · dehumanized · lowered · subjugated · abased · mortified · insulted · disparaged
Oxidized and discolored
- sulliedMade morally unclean
- besmirchedMade morally dirty
- discreditedProven unworthy of trust
- disgracedBrought into shame
ruined · damaged · stained · marred · blackened · smeared · defamed · slandered
Made impure by contact
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- fouledMade dirty or entangled
- taintedContaminated, made impure
- poisonedMade toxic intentionally
impure · hazardous · spoiled · blighted · dirty · unclean · noxious · defiled
Made less capable
- reducedMade less in amount
- declinedRefused or diminished
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- loweredMoved downward or reduced
lessened · attenuated · depleted · deteriorated · impaired · contracted · waned · dwindled
demeaned
Caused loss of dignity
disgraced · dishonored · dehumanized · lowered · subjugated · abased · mortified · insulted · disparaged · denigrated
tarnished
Oxidized and discolored
- sulliedMade morally unclean
- besmirchedMade morally dirty
- discreditedProven unworthy of trust
disgraced · ruined · damaged · stained · marred · blackened · smeared · defamed · slandered · scandalous
contaminated
Made impure by contact
poisoned · impure · hazardous · spoiled · blighted · dirty · unclean · noxious · defiled · corrupted
weakened
Made less capable
- reducedMade less in amount
- declinedRefused or diminished
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
lowered · lessened · attenuated · depleted · deteriorated · impaired · contracted · waned · dwindled · curtailed
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
scouring · attrition · gullied · sediment · detritus · alluvium · topsoil · runoff · washout · stripped
rust
Iron oxide coating
deterioration · decay · disintegration · rusty · metallic · fretting · galvanic · weathered · crumbling · flaking
- damageddamaged, broken, wrecked, ruined, destroyed
- nonfunctionalbroken, malfunctioning, inoperative, out of order, nonfunctional
- equipment conditionsworn, damaged, broken, rusted, dented
- ecosystem statespristine, polluted, balanced, stable, fragile
- wrongedabused, mistreated, victimized, exploited, oppressed
- biology termscell, DNA, genetics, genetic, evolution
- graceful degradationMaintaining function while failing
- environmental degradationDecline of natural surroundings
- signal degradationLoss of transmission integrity
- ecological degradationDecline of natural systems
degrade, degrading, degradation, degrades, degradable, degradations, degrader, degraders, degradability