Defame vs Degrade - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between defame and degrade

is that defame is to harm or diminish the reputation of while degrade is to lower in value or social position.

(defam)

To harm or diminish the reputation of.

to defame somebody

To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.

* Dryden

My guilt thy growing virtues did defame ; / My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name.

To publish a libel about.

(archaic) To charge; to accuse.

* Rebecca is defamed of sorcery practised on the person of a noble knight.

* See also

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(degrad)

To lower in value or social position.

Fred degrades himself by his behaviour.

* Palfrey

Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.

To reduce in quality or purity.

The DNA sample has degraded .

(geology) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

* degradation