v.  贬低〔某人〕，羞辱〔某人〕

v.  使〔局面或情况〕恶化

v. （使）〔物质、化学品等〕分解，降解

• degradation

  n.  耻辱，落魄，潦倒

  n.  退化，恶化

• a life of poverty and degradation 

  穷困潦倒的生活

• it also demonstrated that environmental degradation affects the poor more than the rich, as poorer people derive a much higher proportion of their income directly from the natural resources around them. 环境恶化

• The dolphin’s habitat is being rapidly degraded.

  海豚的栖息环境正遭到越发严重的破坏。

• How can you degrade yourself by writing such trash?

  你怎么能写这种垃圾作品来自贬身份呢？

• They were sickened by the scenes of misery and degradation they found.

  他们对所看到的凄惨和堕落景象感到恶心。

• Air pollution, traffic congestion, and the steady degradation of our quality of life.

  空气污染、交通阻塞以及我们生活质量的持续恶化。

BrE /əˈbɔːt/ ; NAmE /əˈbɔːrt/