baseness

[ beys-nis ]
See synonyms for baseness on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the state or quality of being dishonorable, cowardly, selfish, or mean-spirited; morally despicable character: He says that this sort of advertising reflects “the baseness and moral depravity of the present culture.”

  2. lack of value; relative worthlessness: Despite the rust spots and the baseness of the metal, these antique iron door knockers are still beautiful.

  1. the quality of being menial or undignified: He helped with the farm chores, without balking at the baseness of any task that was asked of him.

  2. illegitimacy of birth: The usurper’s enemies decried the baseness of his birth—he was the late king’s bastard son.

  3. the quality or condition of being unrefined, unsophisticated, or of low social status: The baseness of their position could not detract from the nobility of their character.

Origin of baseness

1
First recorded in 1530–40; base2 + -ness

Words Nearby baseness

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use baseness in a sentence