Standard Lemma guide

degrading

adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪˈɡɹeɪdɪŋ(ɡ)/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪdɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 G R EY1 D IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Causing or likely to cause someone to feel degraded.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Retrieving my dropped possessions from the mud was a degrading experience.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An act or process of degradation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of degrade

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

used of conduct; characterized by dishonor

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: debasing

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

harmful to the mind or morals

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • corrupt judges and their corrupting influence
  • the vicious and degrading cult of violence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: corrupting

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: унизителен (unizitelen) — that degrades
  • Danish: nedværdigende — that degrades
  • Dutch: vernederend — that degrades
  • German: erniedrigend — that degrades
  • German: herabsetzend — that degrades