| Main Entry: | break |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | weaken, cause instability |
Synonyms: |
bankrupt, bust, confound, confute, controvert, cow, cripple, declass, degrade, demerit, demoralize, demote, disconfirm, dispirit, disprove, downgrade, enervate, enfeeble, humiliate, impair, impoverish, incapacitate, pauperize, rebut, reduce, refute, ruin, subdue, tame, undermine |
| Notes: | to brake is to slow or stop while break is to cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently, smash or crack |
Antonyms: |
stabilize, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | degrade |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | shame, humiliate |
Synonyms: |
abase, belittle, bemean, bench, break, bump, bust, canker, cast down, cheapen, corrupt, cut down to size, debase, debauch, declass, decry, degenerate, demean, demote, depose, deprave, derogate, deteriorate, detract, diminish, disbar, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, downgrade, humble, impair, injure, lessen, lower, mudsling, pan, pervert, put down, reduce, rule out, run down, shoot down, sink, slam, take down a peg, take down, tear down, vitiate, weaken |
Antonyms: |
admire, approve, elevate, honor, promote, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | demote |
| 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: | 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 |
| Main Entry: | reduce |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | humble, humiliate |
Synonyms: |
abase, break, bring low, bump*, bust, declass, degrade, demerit, demote, disgrade, disrate, downgrade, lower, take down a peg |
Antonyms: |
invigorate, raise, strengthen |