bas·tard·ize
ˈba-stər-ˌdīz 
bastardized; bastardizing
1
: to reduce from a higher to a lower state or condition : debase
2
: to declare or prove to be a bastard
3
: to modify especially by introducing discordant or disparate elements
bas·tard·i·za·tion
variants
also British bastardisation
ˌba-stər-də-ˈzā-shən
British also ˌbä-
plural -s
: the act or process of bastardizing something or someone
bastardization of the chief principle of which they had the custody—
Philip Wylie
Philip WylieExamples of bastardize in a Sentence
Verb
It's a shame to see how Hollywood has bastardized the novel.
The restaurant serves a bastardized version of the classic French dish.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Reigle Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Our ideals have been bastardized.
—
William Mersey,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Short’s personality and complexity, attributes long discarded as her life became bastardized, stand in stark contrast to the inhumanity of her death.
—
Nathan Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
In both, to bastardize a saying, the play’s the thing.
—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
30 Nov. 2025
The events meant to bring us together, like the Super Bowl or March Madness, have been bastardized into vehicles for ruinous addiction.
—
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Additionally, adding the musical element further bastardizes this tale.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Over the years, though, the cocktail has become bastardized into a sugary drink containing all sorts of fruit juices and sweeteners, causing it to be denegrated alongside the likes of Long Island Ice Teas and Strawberry Daiquiris.
—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
17 Apr. 2023
These white people in blackface entertained the masses with stereotypes of Blackness, bastardizing the Black identity in the process.
—
Tayo Bero,
refinery29.com,
4 Apr. 2023
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Verb
But, like all good things, it has been bastardized to the point of not being worth your time.
—
Matt Reigle Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Our ideals have been bastardized.
—
William Mersey,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Short’s personality and complexity, attributes long discarded as her life became bastardized, stand in stark contrast to the inhumanity of her death.
—
Nathan Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
In both, to bastardize a saying, the play’s the thing.
—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
30 Nov. 2025
The events meant to bring us together, like the Super Bowl or March Madness, have been bastardized into vehicles for ruinous addiction.
—
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Additionally, adding the musical element further bastardizes this tale.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Over the years, though, the cocktail has become bastardized into a sugary drink containing all sorts of fruit juices and sweeteners, causing it to be denegrated alongside the likes of Long Island Ice Teas and Strawberry Daiquiris.
—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
17 Apr. 2023
These white people in blackface entertained the masses with stereotypes of Blackness, bastardizing the Black identity in the process.
—
Tayo Bero,
refinery29.com,
4 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Bastardize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bastardize. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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