Debase
verb
To lower in quality, value, or character.
The company debased the quality of their products to increase profits.
verb
To lower the value or quality of something by adding inferior material.
The artist was accused of debasing precious metals with lead.
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To lower in quality, value, or character.
The company debased the quality of their products to increase profits.
verb
To lower the value or quality of something by adding inferior material.
The artist was accused of debasing precious metals with lead.
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'debase' implies a negative change, suggesting ethical or moral decline.
The politician's speech seemed to debase the dignity of the office.
Pro Tip 2/3Intentional Act
'Debase' often indicates a deliberate action to reduce something's quality.
To cheat consumers, they debased the gold with cheaper metals.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-physical Entities
Can apply to abstract concepts, like honor, not just physical objects.
Plagiarism is seen as debasing academic integrity.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'debase' implies a negative change, suggesting ethical or moral decline.
The politician's speech seemed to debase the dignity of the office.
Pro Tip 2/3Intentional Act
'Debase' often indicates a deliberate action to reduce something's quality.
To cheat consumers, they debased the gold with cheaper metals.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-physical Entities
Can apply to abstract concepts, like honor, not just physical objects.
Plagiarism is seen as debasing academic integrity.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'debase' implies a negative change, suggesting ethical or moral decline.
The politician's speech seemed to debase the dignity of the office.
Pro Tip 2/3Intentional Act
'Debase' often indicates a deliberate action to reduce something's quality.
To cheat consumers, they debased the gold with cheaper metals.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-physical Entities
Can apply to abstract concepts, like honor, not just physical objects.
Plagiarism is seen as debasing academic integrity.
Never forget "Debase"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
History vs. Henry VIII -...
and his attempt to pay for it by debasing the coinage led to constant inflation. The lords and landowners responded by removing access to common pastures and turning the peasant population into beggars. Beggars who would soon become yeomen farmers. The enclosures made farming more efficient, and created a labor surplus
Video examples
Should “blackness”...
same place the deep me to debase exploit and oppress groups of humans so call me crazy but I propose to address the crux of America's race problem at large to address in specific the troubling product of race known as black on black
Video examples
My son was a Columbine...
and that made him less likely to seek help from others. He had experienced triggering events at the school that left him feeling debased and humiliated and mad.
Video examples
History vs. Henry VIII -...
and his attempt to pay for it by debasing the coinage led to constant inflation. The lords and landowners responded by removing access to common pastures and turning the peasant population into beggars. Beggars who would soon become yeomen farmers. The enclosures made farming more efficient, and created a labor surplus
Video examples
Should “blackness”...
same place the deep me to debase exploit and oppress groups of humans so call me crazy but I propose to address the crux of America's race problem at large to address in specific the troubling product of race known as black on black
Video examples
My son was a Columbine...
and that made him less likely to seek help from others. He had experienced triggering events at the school that left him feeling debased and humiliated and mad.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Victor Hugo
French Author
A society that admits misery, a humanity that admits war, seem to me an inferior society and a debased humanity; it is a higher society and a more elevated humanity at which I am aiming - a society without kings, a humanity without barriers.
Quote examples
Shelby Steele
American Author
Blacks had survived every form of human debasement with ingenuity, self-reliance, a deep and ironic humor, a capacity for self-reinvention and a heroic fortitude. But we had no experience of wide-open freedom.
Quote examples
Emma Tennant
British Novelist
The fascination of somebody with original creative gifts is something that's always drawn me. I get attached to them, but I can't call it being in love, because the words are so debased.
Quote examples
Muriel Rukeyser
American Poet
Editors have grown timid... a brave advance is almost inevitably followed by quick back-tracking, generally by dilution and debasement of the original intention.
Quote examples
Gore Vidal
American Novelist
The theater needs continual reminders that there is nothing more debasing than the work of those who do well what is not worth doing at all.
Quote examples
Patrick Henry
American Politician
Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?
Quote examples
Mary Astell
English Writer
The Soul debases her self, when she sets her affections on any thing but her creator.
Quote examples
Genesis P-Orridge
English Musician
To sell yourself is somewhat debasing, and everyone is selling something.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
Whatever debases the intelligence degrades the entire human being.
Quote examples
Prince
American Singer
All you see on television are debased images.
Quote examples
Victor Hugo
French Author
A society that admits misery, a humanity that admits war, seem to me an inferior society and a debased humanity; it is a higher society and a more elevated humanity at which I am aiming - a society without kings, a humanity without barriers.
Quote examples
Shelby Steele
American Author
Blacks had survived every form of human debasement with ingenuity, self-reliance, a deep and ironic humor, a capacity for self-reinvention and a heroic fortitude. But we had no experience of wide-open freedom.
Quote examples
Emma Tennant
British Novelist
The fascination of somebody with original creative gifts is something that's always drawn me. I get attached to them, but I can't call it being in love, because the words are so debased.
Quote examples
Muriel Rukeyser
American Poet
Editors have grown timid... a brave advance is almost inevitably followed by quick back-tracking, generally by dilution and debasement of the original intention.
Quote examples
Gore Vidal
American Novelist
The theater needs continual reminders that there is nothing more debasing than the work of those who do well what is not worth doing at all.
Quote examples
Patrick Henry
American Politician
Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?
Quote examples
Mary Astell
English Writer
The Soul debases her self, when she sets her affections on any thing but her creator.
Quote examples
Genesis P-Orridge
English Musician
To sell yourself is somewhat debasing, and everyone is selling something.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
Whatever debases the intelligence degrades the entire human being.
Quote examples
Prince
American Singer
All you see on television are debased images.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension