Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense debases, present participle debasing, past tense, past participle debased
verb
To debase something means to reduce its value or quality.
[formal]
Politicians have debased the meaning of the word 'freedom'. [VERB noun]
He said parliament and the process of democracy had been debased. [VERB noun]
debasedadjective
...the debased standards of today's media.
Synonyms: degraded, corrupt, fallen, low More Synonyms of debase
Synonyms: corrupt, devalued, reduced, lowered More Synonyms of debase
More Synonyms of debase
debase in British English
(dɪˈbeɪs)
verb
(transitive)
to lower in quality, character, or value, as by adding cheaper metal to coins; adulterate
Derived forms
debasement (deˈbasement)
noun
debaser (deˈbaser)
noun
debasingly (deˈbasingly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: see de-, base2
debase in American English
(diˈbeɪs; dɪˈbeɪs)
verb transitiveWord forms: deˈbased or deˈbasing
to make lower in value, quality, character, dignity, etc.; cheapen
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈgrade
SYNONYMY NOTE: debase implies generally a lowering in quality, value, dignity, etc. [greed had debased his character]; deprave suggests gross degeneration, esp. with reference to morals [a mind depraved by crime]; corrupt implies a deterioration or loss of soundness by some destructive or contaminatinginfluence [a government corrupted by bribery]; debauch implies a loss of moral purity or integrity as through dissipation or intemperateindulgence [debauched young profligates]; pervert suggests a distorting of or departure from what is considered right, natural, ortrue [a perverted sense of humor]
OPPOSITES: elevate, improve
Derived forms
debasement (deˈbasement)
noun
debaser (deˈbaser)
noun
Word origin
de- + base, aphetic < abase
Examples of 'debase' in a sentence
debase
I expect the Lord Remembrancer, if not the Lord Cetic, will soon expose our pharmacologist and debase him.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD (1989)
Nor, in her view, did this do much to debase truth-telling as an imperative.
Delman, David DEATH OF A NYMPH (1989)
Stuart was convinced that society could not afford to debase itself to the level of... his clients.
Clancy, Tom CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (1989)
1 (verb)
Definition
to lower in quality, character, or value
(formal)
He claims that advertising debases the English language.
Synonyms
corrupt
contaminate
The fishing waters have been contaminated with toxic wastes.
devalue
pollute
a man accused of polluting the minds of children
impair
taint
Rancid oil will taint the flavour.
depreciate
defile
piles of old clothes defiled with excrement
adulterate
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
vitiate
His otherwise admirable character is vitiated by his pride.
bastardize
We are not about to bastardize the game.
Opposites
purify
2 (verb)
Definition
to lower in quality, character, or value
I won't debase myself by answering that question.
Synonyms
degrade
No-one should feel degraded at their place of work.
reduce
They wanted the army reduced to a police force.
lower
Don't lower yourself. Don't be the way they are.
shame
I wouldn't shame my family by trying that.
humble
the little car company that humbled the industry giants
disgrace
These soldiers have disgraced their regiment.
humiliate
His teacher continually humiliates him in maths lessons.
demean
All this talk of money just demeans us.
drag down
dishonour
I don't want to dishonour the men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe.
cheapen
Love is a word cheapened by overuse.
abase
He made his courtiers abase themselves before him.
Opposites
elevate
, uplift,
exalt
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abase
He made his courtiers abase themselves before him.
Synonyms
humble,
reduce,
lower,
depress,
disgrace,
humiliate,
degrade,
downgrade,
demean,
denigrate,
demote,
belittle,
mortify,
debase,
dishonour,
cast down,
bring low,
put in your place
in the sense of adulterate
Definition
to spoil something by adding inferior material
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.