| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | downgrade, lower in rank |
| Synonyms: | bench, break, bump, bust, declass, degrade, demean, demerit, dismiss, disrate, hold back, kick downstairs, lower, reduce, relegate, set back |
| Antonyms: | improve, promote, rate, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | deprave |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | corrupt, lead astray |
| Synonyms: | bastardize, bestialize, brutalize, debase, debauch, degrade, demoralize, pervert, seduce, subvert, vitiate, warp |
| Antonyms: | ennoble, improve, moralize |
| Main Entry: | depress |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deject, make despondent; exhaust |
| Synonyms: | abase, afflict, ail, bear down, beat, beat down, bother, bug*, bum out, cast down, chill*, cow*, damp, dampen, darken, daunt, debase, debilitate, degrade, desolate, devitalize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, distress, disturb, drag*, drain, dull, enervate, faze, keep under, lower, mock, mortify, oppress, perturb, press, put down*, reduce, reduce to tears, run down, sadden, sap*, scorn, slow, throw cold water on, torment, trouble, try, turn one off, upset, weaken, weary, weigh down |
| Antonyms: | cheer, comfort, encourage, excite, lift, make happy, stimulate |
| Main Entry: | deteriorate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | decay, degenerate |
| Synonyms: | adulterate, alloy, be worse for wear, become worse, break, corrode, corrupt, crumble, debase, debilitate, decline, decompose, degrade, deprave, depreciate, descend, disimprove, disintegrate, ebb, fade, fail, fall apart, flag, go downhill, go to pieces, go to pot, go to the dogs, hit the skids, impair, injure, languish, lapse, lessen, lose it, lose quality, lower, mar, pervert, regress, retrograde, retrogress, rot, sink, skid, slide, spoil, undermine, vitiate, weaken, wear away, worsen |
| Notes: | to degenerate means 'to decline in value, move lower on a scale' but to deteriorate means 'to worsen, to become lowered, or be reduced in value'; degenerate pertains more to character and virtue while deteriorate is more about loss of strength or vitality |
| Antonyms: | build, construct, develop, get better, improve |
| Main Entry: | dethrone |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | oust |
| Synonyms: | degrade, depose, discrown, dismiss, displace, uncrown, unmake |
| Antonyms: | crown, enthrone, put in power |
| Main Entry: | discredit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | blame, detract from |
| Synonyms: | blow up, bring into disrepute, bring to naught, censure, defame, degrade, destroy, disconsider, disesteem, disfavor, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, disprove, explode, expose, frown upon, knock bottom out of, mudsling, poke full of holes, pooh-pooh, puncture, put down, reflect on, reproach, ruin, run down, shoot, show up, slander, slur, smear, take rug out from under, tear down, vilify |
| Antonyms: | commend, credit, honor, praise |
| Main Entry: | disgrace |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bring shame upon |
| Synonyms: | abase, attaint, besmirch, blot, debase, defame, defile, degrade, depress, deride, derogate, desecrate, discredit, disfavor, dishonor, disparage, disregard, disrespect, expel, give a black eye, humble, humiliate, libel, lose face, lower, mock, put down, reduce, reproach, ridicule, slander, slur, snub, stain, stigmatize, sully, taint, take down a peg, tar and feather, tarnish |
| Antonyms: | esteem, exalt, honor, respect |
| Main Entry: | disparage |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize; detract from |
| Synonyms: | abuse, belittle, chill*, cry down, decry, defame, degrade, deject, demoralize, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, deride, derogate, dis, discourage, discredit, disdain, dishearten, dismiss, dispirit, dispraise, downcry, dump on, lower, malign, minimize, pan, put down, put hooks in, rap, ridicule, roast, run down, scorch, scorn, slam*, slander, smear, sour grapes, tear down, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify, write off |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, flatter, laud, praise, sanction |
| Main Entry: | downgrade |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lower in opinion or rank |
| Synonyms: | abase, bench, break*, bump*, bust, declass, decrease, decry, degrade, demerit, demote, denigrate, depreciate, detract from, devalorize, devalue, disparage, disrate, humble, mark down, minimize, reduce, run down, set back, take down a peg, undervalue, write off |
| Antonyms: | improve, promote, raise, upgrade |