ABASE Synonyms: 160 Similar and Opposite Words

abase

verb

ə-ˈbās

Definition of abase

as in to degrade

to lower in character, dignity, or quality was unwilling to abase himself by pleading guilty to a crime that he did not commit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to humiliate

to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes I certainly don't abase myself when I do good, honest manual labor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of abase Pence has long since perfected the ability to abase himself in public without seeming the least bit ashamed. — Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2023 Unfortunately, an impulse to abase oneself isn’t resolved by a recognition that human life is a collaboration. — Caleb Crain, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021 One by one, internees abase themselves before 60 of their fellow prisoners, repenting of their errors in thinking and their nonprogressive religious practices. — James E. Person Jr., National Review, 17 Sep. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abase

Verb

Iran is expanding its defense capabilities, an Iranian army commander said Wednesday, after much of the country’s equipment was degraded by US-Israeli strikes in the early days of the war.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
The status of its nuclear program, degraded by bombing strikes in 2025, hasn't changed.

— Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

Much of the behavior on display is plainly harassment and bullying, often filmed without the subjects’ knowledge or consent and uploaded online to humiliate them further.

— Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026
In their first national title game, the Wildcats humiliated Oklahoma in the national semifinal by 44, and in their second, demoralized Michigan in the title game by 17.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

The bulk of these are in regions like Africa and South America, where governments have repeatedly debased national currencies, and prompted their citizens to seek out sturdier assets like Tether’s dollar and gold offerings instead.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
After seeing corrupt cops rewarded with medals and politics debase his best friend, now the courts can’t even be trusted to perform their solemn duty.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of debase

Verb

Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
The indictment became a rallying point to discredit not only the SPLC but the wider body of research on hate groups and political extremism.

— Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

But the White House cut its offices and weakened its ability to follow up with cases, as well as slashed funding to research on disparities that people of color face in getting diagnosed and attaining resources for disabilities.

— Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Higher debt can also weaken economic growth by crowding out private investment.

— Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

See affected product Symptoms of salmonella poisoning Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Glutathione is processed in sterile compounding pharmacies, and there have been cases of people getting poisoned due to contamination at these facilities, Sack said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

The sources firmly rejected the draft declarations, characterizing them as publicity stunts designed to mock the league, sow division, and draw attention to the topic by demeaning others.

— Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The Fishback file James Fishback, with no relevant accomplishments or experience, is running a disgracefully racist and antisemitic campaign marked by demeaning attacks on Donalds, who is Black.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of demean

Verb

The play depends on the creeping eeriness of thinking your place of comfort has been corrupted and undercut by evil.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
There, Prue must go on a journey to save her younger brother Mac from crows led by a woman named Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), who captures Curtis and attempts to corrupt him for her own mysterious purposes.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of corrupt

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“Abase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abase. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abase

verb

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