The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Degrade \De*grade"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Degrading.] [F. d['e]grader, LL. degradare, fr. L.
   de- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree.]
   1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to
      lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip
      of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general
      officer.
      [1913 Webster]

            Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be
            degraded from the bar.                --Palfrey.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to
      lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or
      intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or
      contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man.
      [1913 Webster]

            O miserable mankind, to what fall
            Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            Yet time ennobles or degrades each line. --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

            Her pride . . . struggled hard against this
            degrading passion.                    --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Geol.) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and
      mountains; to wear down.

   Syn: To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase.
        [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

degrading \de*grad"ing\, a.
   causing humiliation or degradation; as, a degrading
   surrender.
   [PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

degrading
    adj 1: harmful to the mind or morals; "corrupt judges and their
           corrupting influence"; "the vicious and degrading cult of
           violence" [syn: corrupting, degrading]
    2: used of conduct; characterized by dishonor [syn: debasing,
       degrading]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

52 Moby Thesaurus words for "degrading":
   abasement, abusive, atrocious, backhand, backhanded, beneath one,
   bump, bust, calumnious, casting down, cheap, contumelious,
   debasement, debasing, degradation, demeaning, demotion, deplorable,
   depluming, discreditable, disgraceful, disgrading, displuming,
   downgrading, gutter, humbling, humiliating, humiliative, infra dig,
   infra indignitatem, insolent, insulting, left-handed, lowering,
   offensive, opprobrious, outrageous, pitiful, reduction, sad,
   scandalous, scurrile, scurrilous, shameful, shaming, shocking,
   sorry, stripping of rank, too bad, unbecoming, unspeakable,
   unworthy of one