degrade

v. humiliate, dishonor; reduce (in size, amount, etc.); break down (Chemistry)

Degradation may refer to;Biodegradation, the process by which organic substances are broken down by living organismsChemical decomposition, the degradation of chemical compoundsDegradation (song), by the Violent FemmesDegradation (telecommunications), the loss of quality of an electronic signalDegradation Ceremony, a ritual performed when cleric is deprived of office or a Knight is stripped of the honourElegant degradation, in engineering, the gradual failing of a machine
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Verb
1. reduce the level of land, as by erosion
(antonym) aggrade
2. reduce in worth or character, usually verbally; "She tends to put down younger women colleagues"; "His critics took him down after the lecture"
(synonym) take down, disgrace, demean, put down
(hypernym) humiliate, mortify, chagrin, humble, abase
(hyponym) reduce
(derivation) abasement, degradation, abjection
3. lower the grade of something; reduce its worth
(synonym) cheapen
(hypernym) worsen, aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate
(hyponym) devalue, devaluate
(derivation) abasement, degradation, abjection

v. deteriorate, degrade, demean

v. degrade, humiliate, dishonor; reduce (in size, amount, etc.); break down (Chemistry); corrode, corrupt