English Explanatory Dictionary

debase

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.
To lower in position or rank.
To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈbeɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-debase.wav

Word forms

debase debases debasing debased

Etymology

From de- + base, from Old French bas, from Latin bassus. Cognate with Spanish debajo (“under, beneath, below”). Compare abase.

Synonyms

abase avile debase debauch degrade depreciate devalue devaluate dirty elevate vitiate adulterate demean cut down to size demote humble bring down to size defame depress discredit disgrace dishonour disparage downgrade embase give a bad name humiliate knock down to size put someone in their place reduce relegate sink slur trim down to size whittle down to size adulter alloy adulterize balderdash corrupt bastardize dash dilute sophisticate

Antonyms

enhance enrich

Derived words

debased debasedness debasement debaser debasingly undebased

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.

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