debase

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈbeɪs/ UK /dɪˈbeɪs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to lower in quality, value, character, or dignity

Flooding the market with copies debased the artist's work.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to lower in quality, value,... degrade cheapen demean corrupt lower adulteratedevalueabase

Opposites

elevate enhance ennoble upgrade exalt

Word family

Forms debased

Derived forms debasementdebaserdebased

Related forms base abase

Etymology

Formed in English from the prefix de- ('down') plus base ('low'), modeled on abase. Base derives from Old French bas, from Late Latin bassus ('low, short').

de- Latin bassus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# debase

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈbeɪs/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈbeɪs/

## Meanings
1. to lower in quality, value, character, or dignity

## Examples
- Flooding the market with copies debased the artist's work.

## Synonyms
- degrade
- cheapen
- demean
- corrupt
- lower
- adulterate
- devalue
- abase

## Antonyms
- elevate
- enhance
- ennoble
- upgrade
- exalt

## Derived Forms
- debasement
- debaser
- debased

## Related Forms
- base
- abase

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: de-
- Root: bassus

## Etymology
Formed in English from the prefix de- ('down') plus base ('low'), modeled on abase. Base derives from Old French bas, from Late Latin bassus ('low, short').

## AI Etymology
Debase is formed in English from the prefix de- ('down') plus base ('low'), modeled on abase. Base derives from Old French bas, from Late Latin bassus ('low, short'). In present-day use, it means to lower in quality, value, character, or dignity. Derived formations include debasement, debaser, and debased. Related vocabulary includes base and abase.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

markdown