downgrade

1 of 2

noun

down·​grade ˈdau̇n-ˌgrād How to pronounce downgrade (audio)
Synonyms of downgradenext
1
: a downward grade (as of a road)
2
: a descent toward an inferior state
a career on the downgrade

downgrade

2 of 2

verb

downgraded; downgrading; downgrades

transitive verb

1
: to lower in quality, value, status, or extent
2
: minimize, depreciate

Synonyms of downgrade

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of downgrade in a Sentence

Noun a downgrade in the company's stock prices a singing career on the downgrade Verb The restaurant was downgraded from three to two stars. She didn't intend to downgrade the importance of her colleague's work.
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Noun
Credit rating agencies have made a series of bond rating downgrades over the past year. — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 The Celtics’ decision to go with George instead of Brown is a massive downgrade. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Verb
Thoughts and prayers get downgraded to mere words with no action. — Lauren Green, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 In the decades since, it was downgraded to a subspecies of Chinese pangolin. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for downgrade

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downgrade was in 1847

Rhymes for downgrade

See All Rhymes for downgrade

Browse Nearby Words

downgone
downgrade
down-gyved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downgrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downgrade. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

downgrade

1 of 2 noun
down·​grade -ˌgrād How to pronounce downgrade (audio)
1
: a downward slope
2
: a lowering toward a worse condition
a neighborhood on the downgrade
downgrade adverb

downgrade

2 of 2 verb
: to lower in grade, rank, or standing

More from Merriam-Webster on downgrade

Nglish: Translation of downgrade for Spanish Speakers

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