動詞 degrade:

1. reduce the level of land, as by erosion
2. reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
   同義詞：take down, disgrace, demean, put down
3. lower the grade of something; reduce its worth
   同義詞：cheapen

de.grade

v.tr.（及物動詞）
de.grad.ed,de.grad.ing,de.grades
To reduce in grade, rank, or status; demote.
使降級，使降等：在級別或地位上降低；使降級
To lower in dignity; dishonor or disgrace:
侮辱，羞辱：降低…的尊嚴；敗壞…的聲譽或使…蒙受恥辱：
例句：
a scandal that degraded the participants.
使所有參加者都蒙受恥辱的丑聞

To lower in moral or intellectual character; debase.
降低…品格：降低…的道德水準，或降低…的身份；有損…的人格
To reduce in worth or value:
降低…價值：價值上降低：
例句：
degrade a currency.
貶低通貨的價值

To impair in physical structure or function.
使惡化：在體格或功能方面損害
Geology To lower or wear by erosion or weathering.
【地質學】 侵蝕：通過侵蝕或風化降低或磨蝕
To cause (an organic compound) to undergo degradation.
使退化：使（有機化合物）進行降解

來源：
Middle English degraden
中古英語 degraden
from Old French degrader
源自 古法語 degrader
from Late Latin dôgrad3re
源自 后期拉丁語 dôgrad3re
Latin dô- [de-]
拉丁語 dô- [表示.降低.]
Latin gradus [step] * see ghredh-
拉丁語 gradus [階段] *參見 ghredh-

【引伸】
degrad.er
n.（名詞）
<參考詞匯><同義詞>degrade,abase,debase,demean,humble,humiliateThese verbs mean to deprive of self-esteem or self-worth.
這些動詞都表示剝奪自尊的意思。
Degrade implies reduction to a state of shame or disgrace:
Degrade 含有下降到羞恥和壞名聲狀態(tài)的意思：
例句：
.Charity degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it. (George Sand).
.施舍使接受它的人蒙羞，從而使發(fā)放它的人變得冷酷無情. （喬治·桑）。

Abase refers principally to loss of rank or prestige:
Abase 主要指級別或威望的喪失：
例句：
refused to abase herself by asking for an invitation.
因請求得到他人的邀請被拒絕而使自己的威望降低。

Debase implies reduction in quality or value:
Debase 含有在質量或價值方面的降低：
例句：
.debasing the moral currency. (George Eliot).
.降低普遍的道德規(guī)范. （喬治·愛略特）。

Demean suggests lowering in social position:
Demean 含有社會地位上的下降：
例句：
.It puts him where he can make the advances without demeaning himself. (William Dean Howells).
.這使他處于一種可以進取而不用降低自己身份的位置. （威廉·迪恩·豪威爾斯）。

Humble can refer to lowering in rank or, more often, to driving out undue pride:
Humble 可指在級別上的降級，更常指消除不適當的傲氣：
例句：
He dreamed of humbling his opponent. To
他夢想著壓倒對手。

humiliate is to subject to loss of self-respect or dignity:
Humiliate 是使喪失自尊的意思：
例句：
a defeat that humiliated both army and nation. See also Synonyms at demote
一次喪失了軍隊和國家尊嚴的失敗 參見同義詞 demote