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debase definition

de·base (dē bās′, di-)

transitive verb debased -·based′, debasing -·bas′·ing

to make lower in value, quality, character, dignity, etc.; cheapen

Etymology: de- + base, aphetic < abase

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

debase Synonyms

debase

v.

corrupt, pervert, deprave, debauch, humble, degrade, cheapen, devalue, demean, lower, abase, vitiate; see also corrupt 1.

debase implies generally a lowering in quality, value, dignity, etc. greed had debased his character; deprave suggests gross degeneration, esp. with reference to morals a mind depraved by crime; corrupt implies a deterioration or loss of soundness by some destructive or contaminating influence a government corrupted by bribery; debauch implies a loss of moral purity or integrity as through dissipation or intemperate indulgence debauched young profligates; pervert suggests a distorting of or departure from what is considered right, natural, or true a perverted sense of humor See also syn. study at humble.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

debase Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Of course I did not debase myself by peeping into the letter.
  • so: Never was the Press so debased as in publishing the productions of their pens.

Preposition: in

  • way: I cant believe that I have let myself be so debased in this way.
debase usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"debase." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/debase>

APA Style

debase. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/debase

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