1.degrade的基本意思是“使降低身份”(grade的意思是“等级”,前缀de-表示“降低”)。可指一般地降低地位、级别; 也可指因犯错误(或真或假)而降级; 还可表示正式剥夺某资格(如人民代表)或革职。引申可指“使丢脸”。
2.degrade是及物动词,接名词或代词作宾语,可用于被动结构。
3.degrade接介词for可表示降级的原因; 接to则可表示“降至”。

degrade for (v.+prep.)
由于…而降级 reduce to a low rank for
▲degrade sb for sth/v-ing
◇ 常用于be ～ed结构
The major was degraded for disobeying orders.这个少校因不服从命令而被降级。
He was degraded for being drunk and disorderly.他因酗酒和妨碍治安而受到降级处分。
He was degraded from office, rank for his dereliction of duty.他因渎职而被降级。

degrade to〔into〕 (v.+prep.)
使(某人)降级为〔沦为〕 make (sb) bring down in personal quality
▲degrade sb to〔into〕 sb
His dishonest action degraded him into a loner.他因行为不轨以致没人愿与他来往。
This degraded him into a beggar.这使他沦为乞丐。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
He was degraded to a mere member.他被降为仅是会员而已。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
A dishonest action like that will degrade you.像这样不诚实的行为会使你降低身份。
Do you think it degrades a woman to marry a man, not because she loves him, but because he is rich?一个女人嫁给一个男人,不是因为爱他,而是因为他有钱。你觉得她是堕落吗?
Don't degrade yourself by answering him.不要贬低身份去答理他。
He felt they were degrading him by making him wash the dishes.他感到他们叫他洗盘子是在侮辱他。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
He was degraded from the class.他被降级了。
Dreyfus is degraded before the Army on January 5,1895.德赖弗斯于1895年1月5日在全军面前被革职。

degrade, disgrace, humble
这组词都有“使丢脸”“使受耻辱”的意思。它们之间的区别是:
1.degrade多指因不道德的习惯或行为而丢脸; disgrace指因使人丢脸的、不光彩的行为而丢脸; humble仅指一种敬畏或卑微的心理状态。
2.degrade指人格受损; disgrace指丧失体面。试比较以下三个句子:
I degraded myself by stealing.
我因偷窃而丢脸。
The contestant did not disgrace her mother-
land.
该选手没有给祖国丢脸。
I can't see why I should humble myself
before others.
我想不通为什么我在别人面前自卑。