What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
demoted
Example
After the scandal, he was demoted from manager to assistant. [demoted: past tense]
Example
She was demoted for consistently failing to meet her sales targets. [demoted: verb]
downgrade
Example
The hotel had to downgrade our room due to overbooking. [downgrade: verb]
Example
The company's credit rating was downgraded due to financial instability. [downgraded: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Demote and downgrade are both commonly used in professional or workplace contexts. However, demote is more specific to personnel management, while downgrade can be used in a broader range of situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between demoted and downgrade?
Both demote and downgrade are formal words that are appropriate for professional or academic writing. However, demote can have a more personal and negative connotation, while downgrade can be more neutral and objective.