degradarsi

Degradarsi is an Italian verb, used almost exclusively in its reflexive form to mean that a person degrades themselves or falls into a worse state. It covers moral, physical, and social decline as a self-initiated or self-allowed process. The word comes from degradare, from Latin degradare, with de- meaning “down” and grad- “step” or “degree.”

In common usage, degradarsi describes self-directed deterioration such as worsening health, decreasing self-esteem, self-destructive behavior, or loss of social standing caused by harmful choices, neglect, or addiction. It can denote both voluntary decline and decline caused by circumstances.

For non-human subjects or for external deterioration, Italian uses degradare (non reflexive) or related nouns such as degrado and degradazione. The reflexive form emphasizes the subject’s own role in the decline.

Contexts and nuance: the term appears across psychology, sociology, ethics, literature, and journalism. In clinical or preventive discourse, discussions of degradarsi are linked to questions of self-care, resilience, and social support. While it often carries a negative connotation, the expression can also be used descriptively to analyze patterns of behavior, personal history, and the factors that contribute to self-directed decline.