debase

American  

[dih-beys] / dɪˈbeɪs /

verb (used with object)

debases, present (3rd person singular) debased, past participle, past debasing present participle

1. to reduce in quality or value; adulterate.

   They debased the value of the dollar.

   Synonyms:

   defile, pollute, contaminate, corrupt, vitiate, lower

2. to lower in rank, dignity, or significance.

   He wouldn't debase himself by doing manual labor.

   Synonyms:

   reduce, demean, abase, degrade

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debase British  

/ dɪˈbeɪsɪdnɪs, dɪˈbeɪs /

verb

1. (tr) to lower in quality, character, or value, as by adding cheaper metal to coins; adulterate

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• debasedness
  noun
• debasement
  noun
• debaser
  noun
• debasingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• debasing
  present
• debased
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• debase
  simple
• debases
  simple
• have debased
  perfect
• has debased
  perfect
• am debasing
  progressive
• are debasing
  progressive
• is debasing
  progressive
• have been debasing
  perfect progressive
• has been debasing
  perfect progressive

Past

• debased
  simple
• had debased
  perfect
• was debasing
  progressive
• were debasing
  progressive
• had been debasing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will debase
  simple
• will have debased
  perfect
• will be debasing
  progressive
• will have been debasing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of debase

First recorded in 1555–65; de- + base ²; cf. abase

Explanation

To debase something is to make it corrupt or impure. If your lemonade stand sells “pure lemonade,” you’d insist on using real lemons instead of a mix; using a mix would debase your product. Debase is often used in the context of two things: coins and people. To debase a coin is to replace some of the precious metal in the coin with metal of lesser value. To debase a person is to corrupt them, often by driving them to perform an immoral act like (gasp!) using the lemonade mix. Just promise us you won’t do it.

Related Words

• cheapen
• demean
• demoralize
• disgrace
• dishonor
• humiliate