debase
verb
de·base di-ˈbās 
dē-
debased; debasing; debases
transitive verb
1
: to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character
debased himself by lying to his supporters
… a constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to outlaw debasing the American flag. 
Time
TimeThis is not to say that you should be prepared to debase camping standards. The Scout Leader's Handbook
The Scout Leader's Handbook2
a
: to reduce the intrinsic value of (a coin) by increasing the base-metal content
b
: to reduce the exchange value of (a monetary unit)
debasement
di-ˈbās-mənt
noun dē-
debaser
di-ˈbā-sər
noun dē-
Did you know?
Debase is often used to talk about someone's lowered status or character. People are constantly blustering about the debased tastes of the ordinary American, and especially the debased music of America's youth. A commentator might observe that both candidates had managed to debase themselves by the end of a political campaign. Debase has a special meaning in economics: From time to time, governments find that they need to quietly debase their countries' currency by reducing the percentage of valuable metal in its coins; if they don't, the metal may become more valuable than the coin and people will begin melting the coins down and reselling the metal.
Synonyms
- abase
- bastardize
- canker
- cheapen
- corrupt
- debauch
- degrade
- demean
- demoralize
- deprave
- deteriorate
- lessen
- pervert
- poison
- profane
- prostitute
- subvert
- vitiate
- warp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The governor debased himself by lying to the public. The holiday has been debased by commercialism.
Recent Examples on the Web This fundamentally differentiates it from more traditional hedges that serve as a store of value for when central banks actively debase their currency through quantitative easing. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 22 June 2022 Opponents say the changes will debase the 850-year-old cathedral and disturb the harmony of its Gothic design. New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021 The Milk Crate Challenge, like planking, or the Harlem Shake, or the countless other challenges that came before it, encouraged young people to violently debase themselves on camera for a small chance to enter Internet Valhalla. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2021 The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust. Pete Rizzo, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2021 Governments need and want to know where the money is, need to control it, debase it, confiscate it, know how much is in play. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2021 Bitcoin is nearing record highs after more than doubling this year, partly driven by fears that major central bank easing and fiscal stimulus will debase currencies. Benjamin Stupples, Bloomberg.com, 18 Nov. 2020 Exception: the federal government, which has (c) the option to debase the currency. WSJ, 10 Sep. 2020 To let your politics be defined by loathing or adoration of a single political figure is to debase yourself. Isaac Schorr, National Review, 19 Aug. 2020 See More
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 22 June 2022 Opponents say the changes will debase the 850-year-old cathedral and disturb the harmony of its Gothic design. New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021 The Milk Crate Challenge, like planking, or the Harlem Shake, or the countless other challenges that came before it, encouraged young people to violently debase themselves on camera for a small chance to enter Internet Valhalla. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2021 The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust. Pete Rizzo, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2021 Governments need and want to know where the money is, need to control it, debase it, confiscate it, know how much is in play. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2021 Bitcoin is nearing record highs after more than doubling this year, partly driven by fears that major central bank easing and fiscal stimulus will debase currencies. Benjamin Stupples, Bloomberg.com, 18 Nov. 2020 Exception: the federal government, which has (c) the option to debase the currency. WSJ, 10 Sep. 2020 To let your politics be defined by loathing or adoration of a single political figure is to debase yourself. Isaac Schorr, National Review, 19 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1
debased 1 of 2
adjective
as in degraded
having or showing lowered moral character or standards a book that examines the debased character of the criminal mind Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- degraded
- corrupt
- sick
- depraved
- debauched
- perverted
- degenerate
- decadent
- warped
- demoralized
- dissolute
- crooked
- dissipated
- reprobate
- unclean
- loose
- perverse
- unwholesome
- libertine
- dishonest
- spoiled
- vicious
- rakish
- immoral
- evil
- bad
- unprincipled
- wicked
- unscrupulous
- tainted
- rakehell
- contaminated
- bent
- cutthroat
- rakehelly
- unethical
- sinful
- iniquitous
- jackleg
- nefarious
- miscreant
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pure
- uncorrupted
- uncorrupt
- incorruptible
- virtuous
- moral
- ethical
- good
- honest
- righteous
- principled
debased
2 of 2verb
1
as in depraved
to lower in character, dignity, or quality we debase ourselves when we adopt the moral code and behavior of our despised enemies Synonyms & Similar Words
- degraded
- depraved
- debauched
- corrupted
- perverted
- bastardized
- weakened
- deteriorated
- humiliated
- demeaned
- subverted
- poisoned
- prostituted
- diluted
- cankered
- cheapened
- abased
- disgraced
- destroyed
- warped
- vitiated
- ruined
- damaged
- polluted
- demoralized
- tainted
- profaned
- shamed
- marred
- contaminated
- defiled
- lessened
- impaired
- dirtied
- humbled
- begrimed
- befouled
- dishonored
- wrecked
- tarnished
- harmed
- hurt
- flawed
- thinned
- spoiled
- stained
- watered down
- defaced
- depreciated
- blemished
- spoilt
- descended
- downgraded
- took down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- elevated
- ennobled
- exalted
- uplifted
- improved
- dignified
- enriched
- honored
- amended
- refined
- enhanced
- perfected
- purified
- ameliorated
- restored
- bettered
- cleaned
- cleansed
- respected
- clarified
- meliorated
2
as in humiliated
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes our failure to win a single game completely debased us Synonyms & Similar Words
- humiliated
- discredited
- degraded
- disgraced
- embarrassed
- shamed
- demeaned
- confused
- dishonored
- humbled
- cheapened
- insulted
- abased
- chastened
- smirched
- diminished
- rattled
- criticized
- lowered
- fouled
- ridiculed
- sunk
- took down
- disparaged
- mortified
- maligned
- disconcerted
- depreciated
- flustered
- belittled
- discountenanced
- defiled
- sank
- condemned
- discounted
- discomfited
- abashed
- confounded
- slandered
- nonplussed
- decried
- minimized
- defamed
- affronted
- detracted
- execrated
- castigated
- libeled
- denounced
- fazed
- nonplused
- damned
- reprobated
- censured
- reprehended
- libelled
- put down
- cried down
- wrote off
- bad-mouthed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exalted
- elevated
- deified
- recognized
- celebrated
- decorated
- praised
- canonized
- honored
- applauded
- extolled
- aggrandized
- cited
- lauded
- acknowledged
- acclaimed
- cheered
- commended
- boasted
- complimented
- feted
- saluted
- eulogized
- ennobled
- hailed
- touted
- congratulated
- magnified
- promoted
- dignified
- enshrined
- highlighted
- fêted
- advanced
- glorified
- uplifted
- idealized
- upgraded
- spotlighted
- lifted
- enthroned
- raised
- romanticized
- boosted
- spotlit
- played up
- enskied