degrading

[dih-grey-ding]

adjective

1. that degrades; debasing; humiliating.

   degrading submission.

degrading

/ dɪˈɡreɪdɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing humiliation; debasing

Other Word Forms

• degradingness noun
• degradingly adverb
• nondegrading adjective
• undegrading adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of degrading¹

First recorded in 1675–85; degrade + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The IOC used visual inspections in the 1960s, but there were concerns they were degrading and invasive, before mandatory chromosome-based cheek swab tests were introduced.

From BBC

Mich Gonzalez, Michael's lawyer, says that while immigration detention centers are supposed to be non-punitive - a place to supervise immigrants who are facing deportation - the conditions inside these facilities are "degrading and deadly".

From BBC

Airstrikes, however, won’t be any more effective at degrading the cartels or diminishing the flow of drugs into the United States than ground operations would be.

From Los Angeles Times

We all know the answer: Racist white Americans who don’t like being reminded of how horrible and degrading slavery actually was.

From Salon

"They're kept at minus 80 degrees to stop them degrading," she explained.

From BBC

Related Words

• demeaning 
• derogatory 
• disgraceful 
• humiliating