Added 9 October 2026 degrade /dɪˈɡɹeɪd/ verb Categories: ActionsFeelingsRare Words In Latin: obterō Wiktionary verb ! Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about degrade at Wordnik → Where our words come from → Reduce the level of land, as by erosion. Reduce in worth or character, usually verbally. She tends to put down younger women colleagues Lower the grade of something; reduce its worth. Origin From Middle French dégrader. From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA) Related Words: demeancheapendisgraceabasedegradationdemotedegradativedeteriorateworsenhumiliateimpair Back to today's word