downgrade

/ˈdaʊnˌɡɹeɪd/noun
Middle School
1

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

2

A downhill gradient on a road or railway.

3

A reduction in quality; a descent towards an inferior state.

Thesaurus

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing