Words / C1

degr-uh-DAYSHUN/ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃn/

Degradation is being damaged, reduced in quality, or humiliated: environmental degradation, the degradation of a sample, a degrading remark. Degrade (already in the dictionary) is the verb; decline is milder; improvement sits opposite. Night rows dropping out are a methods fact, not “natural attrition”.

Meaning

The process of being damaged, reduced in quality, or humiliated.

Examples

• “Degradation of the night sample is a methods finding, not “natural attrition”.”
• “Decline is milder and more general. Humiliation is the personal sense. Attrition can be a planned loss with a note. Rows that vanish are a hole. Report the hole; do not baptise it as nature.”

Good to know

Damage, decline, or humiliation. Verb: degrade (already in the dictionary). Milder: decline. Vanishing night rows ≠ attrition.

Near in meaning

decline

New