degradation

/ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən/ (ame, mw)

degradation — noun

1. a gradual process in which something loses quality, strength, or condition and b

1.名詞C1
釋義

a gradual process in which something loses quality, strength, or condition and becomes worse than before

例句

Years of acid rain caused serious degradation of the old stone bridge.

degradation of + physical structure

The battery showed rapid degradation after Romi left the phone in heat.

rapid degradation in equipment

同義詞
  • deterioration

    very close in meaning; often used for a broad decline in condition over time

  • decline

    broader and less technical; often used for numbers, health, or standards

  • decay

    stronger for physical rotting or long-term breakdown

  • damage

    less formal and can describe one harmful result rather than a gradual process

反義詞
  • improvement

    a general change toward a better condition

  • preservation

    keeping something in good condition instead of letting it worsen

文法句型

degradation of something

show signs of degradation

rapid/gradual degradation

用法筆記

Usually takes 'of' plus the thing that is getting worse, such as soil, image quality, materials, or public services. It is more formal than everyday expressions like 'damage' or 'getting worse' and often suggests a continuing process rather than one sudden event.

常見錯誤

❌The sun degradation the paint on the door.
✅The sun degraded the paint on the door.
💡'degradation' is a noun; use 'degrade' as the verb.
❌The soil was in degradation after the flood.
✅The soil showed signs of degradation after the flood.
💡This noun is more natural in patterns like 'degradation of ...' or 'signs of degradation'.

2. a state in which someone is treated so badly that they feel stripped of respect

2.名詞C1
釋義

a state in which someone is treated so badly that they feel stripped of respect and worth

例句

The report described the degradation of prisoners forced to wash in public.

degradation of + people

Christopher spoke about the degradation of sleeping on cardboard outside the station.

同義詞
  • humiliation

    the clearest everyday equivalent; focuses on shame and loss of dignity

  • indignity

    often stresses the insulting treatment itself rather than the long state it creates

  • debasement

    more literary and strongly suggests being lowered in moral or social status

  • disgrace

    can focus more on public shame or dishonour than on degrading treatment

反義詞
  • dignity

    the quality of being respected and valued

  • respect

    being treated as someone who matters

文法句型

degradation of somebody

life of degradation

sense of degradation

用法筆記

This sense is mostly found in serious writing about abuse, punishment, poverty, or the loss of human dignity. Distinguish it from Sense 1: here the focus is on people being humiliated or treated as worthless, not on objects or systems becoming weaker or lower in quality.

常見錯誤

❌Missing the last train was a degradation.
✅Being laughed at by the whole crowd was a degradation.
💡This sense is about humiliation or loss of dignity, not an ordinary inconvenience.
❌She felt degradation because the meeting was boring.
✅She felt degraded when the guards shouted at her in public.
💡Use this meaning for treatment that strips away dignity, not for mild frustration.