prostitute

¹pros·ti·tute

verb \ˈpräs-tə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt\

pros·ti·tut·edpros·ti·tut·ing

Definition of PROSTITUTE

transitive verb

1

: to offer indiscriminately for sexual intercourse especially for money

2

: to devote to corrupt or unworthy purposes : debase <prostitute one's talents>

— pros·ti·tu·tor \-ˌtü-tər, -ˌtyü-\ noun

Examples of PROSTITUTE

1. a writer who prostituted his talents by writing commercials
2. <a serious writer prostituting himself by writing pulp novels for money>

Origin of PROSTITUTE

Latin prostitutus, past participle of prostituere, from pro- before + statuere to station — more at pro-, statute

First Known Use: 1530

Related to PROSTITUTE

Synonyms: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, debase, subvert, vitiate, warp

Antonyms: elevate, ennoble, uplift

Related Words: befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken; descend; disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down; blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck; depreciate, downgrade

Near Antonyms: dignify, exalt, honor; ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect; clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore; respect

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with PROSTITUTE

absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, comminute, constitute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, execute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prosecute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, substitute, troubleshoot, undershoot