downgrade
verb /ˈdaʊnɡreɪd 
/ /daʊnˈɡreɪd / [with object]
/ /daʊnˈɡreɪd / [with object]Reduce to a lower grade, rank, or level of importance: some jobs had gradually been downgraded from skilled to semi-skilled...
- By upgrading the importance of other factors he downgraded the importance of economic growth in the development process.
- Evacuees were not paying council tax and some bandings had been downgraded, reducing the amount of rates collected.
- However, under this legislation we have downgraded safety to the same level as sustainability.
Synonyms
demote, lower, lower in status, reduce/lower in rank, reduce in importance;
relegate
North American informal bust
archaic degrade
disparage, denigrate, detract from, run down, decry, belittle, make light of, minimize, defame
North American informal bad-mouth
noun /ˈdaʊnɡreɪd /
/1An instance of reducing someone or something’s rank, status, or level of importance: downgrades by debt-rating agencies outnumber upgrades by five to one...
- A later rating by rival Moody's Investors Service kept Ford's debt rating at investment-grade status, the S&P downgrades shocked the corporate bond market.
- The code of conduct threatens penalties ranging from administrative sanctions and temporary suspension of duty, to rank downgrades and dismissal.
- With no suitable alternative location being offered by the Council the removal of the taxi rank is a downgrade in the taxi service of Ballina.
2North American A downward gradient on a railway or road: a steep downgrade for which he had to put the car in second...
- This was the original Montreal-Toronto mainline (legally the Ontario & Quebec Railway) and a roller coaster of upgrades and downgrades.
- On steeper downgrades, a higher acceleration will be achievable through the assistance of gravity.
- Soon after they resumed, the road crested a hill and began switching back and forth sharply, for the downgrade was very steep.
Phrases
on the downgrade