1. 丢脸;（尤指）落泊,堕落
You use degradation to refer to a situation, condition, or experience which you consider shameful and disgusting, especially one which involves poverty or immorality.

2. 恶化;变糟;衰退
Degradation is the process of something becoming worse or weaker, or being made worse or weaker.

3. (土地或环境的)退化
The degradation of land or of the environment is the process of its becoming damaged and poorer, for example because of the effects of pollution, industry, and modern agricultural methods.

4. 降解
In science, the degradation of a substance is the process of its breaking down into its separate parts or elements.