degrading

4 definitions found

degrading - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Degrade \De*grade"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Degrading.] [F. d['e]grader, LL. degradare, fr. L.
     de- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree.]
     1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to
        lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip
        of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general
        officer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be
              degraded from the bar.                --Palfrey.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to
        lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or
        intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or
        contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              O miserable mankind, to what fall
              Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Yet time ennobles or degrades each line. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Her pride . . . struggled hard against this
              degrading passion.                    --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Geol.) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and
        mountains; to wear down.
  
     Syn: To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase.
          [1913 Webster]

  degrading \de*grad"ing\, a.
     causing humiliation or degradation; as, a degrading
     surrender.
     [PJC]

degrading - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  degrading
      adj 1: harmful to the mind or morals; "corrupt judges and their
             corrupting influence"; "the vicious and degrading cult of
             violence" [syn: corrupting, degrading]
      2: used of conduct; characterized by dishonor [syn: debasing,
         degrading]

degrading - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  52 Moby Thesaurus words for "degrading":
     abasement, abusive, atrocious, backhand, backhanded, beneath one,
     bump, bust, calumnious, casting down, cheap, contumelious,
     debasement, debasing, degradation, demeaning, demotion, deplorable,
     depluming, discreditable, disgraceful, disgrading, displuming,
     downgrading, gutter, humbling, humiliating, humiliative, infra dig,
     infra indignitatem, insolent, insulting, left-handed, lowering,
     offensive, opprobrious, outrageous, pitiful, reduction, sad,
     scandalous, scurrile, scurrilous, shameful, shaming, shocking,
     sorry, stripping of rank, too bad, unbecoming, unspeakable,
     unworthy of one