noun

1. A reduction of a rating, as a financial or credit rating.

2. A downhill gradient on a road or railway.

verb

1. To place lower in position.

   “The stock was downgraded from 'buy' to 'sell'.”

2. To 'dumb down', reduce in complexity, or remove unnecessary parts.

3. To disparage.

Synonyms: defame, degrade, demote, reduce, revert, ruin