1
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about
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2
as in corruption
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of degradation
Creating healthy soil According to the UN, at least 100 million hectares of healthy land is lost globally every year through land degradation.
—
Tom Page, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
However, this is preferable to the alternative of incremental, non-impactful steps that may be intermittently crowd-pleasing but in the long term leave the planet vulnerable to climate change and broad environmental degradation.
—Azra Nurkic, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Sharon Perez, senior business development manager at Lenzing Group, noted that there are three potential ways to design with a product’s end of life in mind: circularity, degradation and durability.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 1 Apr. 2025
Many countries and regions are recognizing the importance of integrating conservation principles into their agricultural practices, particularly in areas facing significant agricultural challenges due to climate change, soil degradation, and resource scarcity.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Tom Page, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
However, this is preferable to the alternative of incremental, non-impactful steps that may be intermittently crowd-pleasing but in the long term leave the planet vulnerable to climate change and broad environmental degradation.
—Azra Nurkic, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Sharon Perez, senior business development manager at Lenzing Group, noted that there are three potential ways to design with a product’s end of life in mind: circularity, degradation and durability.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 1 Apr. 2025
Many countries and regions are recognizing the importance of integrating conservation principles into their agricultural practices, particularly in areas facing significant agricultural challenges due to climate change, soil degradation, and resource scarcity.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for degradation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for degradation
Noun
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As leaders in the industry who have spent countless hours underground repairing failing gas lines, our licensed gas contractors have witnessed firsthand the deterioration of our state’s natural gas infrastructure.—
Harley Flack,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
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Not spending enough time in the two deep stages of slumber might speed up the deterioration of parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Confidential finds a powerful political lobbyist shot to death, his apparent suicide highlighting a bizarre turn in Ohio’s largest public corruption case accidentaly uncovered by federal investigators that was nearly concealed by loose super PAC campaign financing rules.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2025
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When their late boss, Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), is reported to have engaged in corruption tied to drug cartels, Mike and Marcus vow to clear his name.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Apparel exports from Turkey saw a decline of 6 percent in January-February 2025, and a drop of 4.47 percent year-on-year in 2024, with the last month of the year falling almost 11 percent.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Apr. 2025
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Walmart's stock has experienced a notable decline amid a nationwide boycott and broader market volatility.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In contrast, during 2016-16 the lunar declination varied from only 18.5 degrees north to 18.5 degrees south.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2025
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Red and declinations to rust and burgundy at Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta.—
WWD,
WWD,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Degradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/degradation. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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