1. (n.) The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation\, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop.

2. (n.) The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.

3. (n.) Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.

4. (n.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.

5. (n.) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.

6. (n.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.

abandon abandonment abasement abjection abjectness ablation abominableness atomization atrociousness banishment baseness beggarliness biodegradability biodegradation blackballing breakup bump bust casting down chicanery comedown concavity contemptibility contemptibleness corrosion corruptedness corruption corruptness crumbling crumminess de-escalation debasement decadence decadency decay declension declination decline decomposition deformation defrocking degeneracy degenerateness degeneration degradability degrading demoralization demotion depluming deportation depravation depravedness depravity depreciation depression deprivation derogation descent despicableness deterioration detrusion devolution dilapidation diminution disbarment discredit disfellowship disgrace disgrading dishonor disintegration disjunction disorganization displuming disrepute dissoluteness dissolution downgrading downtrend downturn downward mobility downward trend drop ducking dying ebb effeteness enormity erosion exclusion excommunication execrableness exile expatriation extradition fading failing failure failure of nerve fall falling-off foulness fugitation fulsomeness grossness hauling down heinousness hollowness humbling humiliation ignobility ignominiousness ignominy incoherence infamousness infamy ingloriousness involution knavery knavishness lapse littleness loss of honor loss of tone lowering lowness meanness mildew miserableness mold monstrousness moral pollution moral turpitude nefariousness obloquy obnoxiousness odiousness odium opprobrium ostracism ostracization outlawing outlawry oxidation oxidization paltriness pettiness pokiness poorness profligacy rankness rascality rascalry ravages of time reduction regression relegation reprobacy resolution retrocession retrogradation retrogression roguery roguishness rottenness rust rustication scabbiness scampishness scoundrelism scrubbiness scruffiness scumminess scurviness shabbiness shame shoddiness sinking slippage slump smallness spoilage squalor stripping stripping of rank submergence thrusting under transportation turpitude unfrocking vileness villainousness villainy vitiation wane wear wear and tear wretchedness