He was forced to live a life of 'degradation'. [=a life in which he suffered and was treated very poorly]
He was forced to suffer the 'degradations' [='indignities'] of poverty and abuse.
There has been a slight 'degradation' [='decline'] in the car's performance.
(..) Dialogue: ..,Default,,,You wanted to see me? Dialogue: ..,Default,,,Yeah, I reexamined\Nour victim's nasal tissue, Dialogue: ..,Default,,,looking for evidence\Nof degradation. Dialogue: ..,Default,,,There wasn't any. Dialogue: ..,Default,,,So she wasn't a frequent\Ndrug user. (..)2016 TvShow: Bones Title: The Death in the Defense Season: 11 Episode 11