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degradar

deh-grah-dahr/deɣɾaˈðaɾ/

to demote

Also: to strip of rank
VerbB2regular ar
A military jacket on a wooden table with its shoulder insignia carefully being removed.
gerunddegradando
past Participledegradado
infinitivedegradar

📝 In Action

El oficial fue degradado tras el escándalo.

B2

The officer was demoted after the scandal.

No pueden degradarte sin una razón válida.

B2

They cannot demote you without a valid reason.

Fue una humillación verlo degradar frente a su tropa.

C1

It was a humiliation to see him stripped of his rank in front of his troops.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • destituir (to dismiss/remove from office)
  • descender (to lower/demote)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • degradar de rango – to demote in rank
  • ser degradado – to be demoted

to degrade

Also: to deteriorate
VerbB1regular ar
An old, rusty metal watering can sitting in tall grass, showing signs of decay.
gerunddegradando
past Participledegradado
infinitivedegradar

📝 In Action

El plástico tarda siglos en degradarse.

B1

Plastic takes centuries to degrade.

La luz solar puede degradar los colores de la alfombra.

B2

Sunlight can degrade the colors of the carpet.

Debemos evitar acciones que degraden el medio ambiente.

B1

We must avoid actions that degrade the environment.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • biodegradar – to biodegrade
  • degradar el suelo – to degrade the soil

to humiliate

Also: to debase
VerbC1regular arformal
A person standing alone in the rain while others point and look away, representing a loss of dignity.
gerunddegradando
past Participledegradado
infinitivedegradar

📝 In Action

No permitas que nadie te degrade.

B2

Don't let anyone humiliate you.

Esas condiciones de trabajo degradan a los empleados.

C1

Those working conditions debase the employees.

La violencia degrada al ser humano.

C1

Violence debases human beings.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • dignificar (to dignify)
  • enaltecer (to praise/exalt)

Common Collocations

  • acción degradante – degrading action

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdegradaran
yodegradara
túdegradaras
vosotrosdegradarais
nosotrosdegradáramos
él/ella/usteddegradara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdegraden
yodegrade
túdegrades
vosotrosdegradéis
nosotrosdegrademos
él/ella/usteddegrade

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdegradaron
yodegradé
túdegradaste
vosotrosdegradasteis
nosotrosdegradamos
él/ella/usteddegradó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdegradaban
yodegradaba
túdegradabas
vosotrosdegradabais
nosotrosdegradábamos
él/ella/usteddegradaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdegradan
yodegrado
túdegradas
vosotrosdegradáis
nosotrosdegradamos
él/ella/usteddegrada
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "degradar" in Spanish:

to debase→to degrade→to demote→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: degradar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence refers to the environment?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
degradación(degradation) — Noun
degradante(degrading) — Adjective
degradado(demoted/deteriorated) — Adjective
biodegradable(biodegradable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'degradare', formed by 'de-' (down) and 'gradus' (step or grade). Literally, 'to take a step down'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: degradeFrench: dégrader

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'degradar' a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.

Can I use 'degradar' for a sports team going down a league?

No, for sports teams, we usually use 'descender' or 'bajar de categoría'.

What is the difference between 'degradar' and 'humillar'?

'Degradar' is more formal and often involves a loss of official status or human dignity, while 'humillar' is more common for personal emotional hurt.