Synonyms of abase

abase

verb

ə-ˈbās 

1

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

• degrade
• humiliate
• debase
• weaken
• poison
• demean
• corrupt
• subvert
• destroy
• debauch
• deprave
• deteriorate
• dilute
• pervert
• lessen
• prostitute
• disgrace
• ruin
• damage
• vitiate
• demoralize
• mar
• cheapen
• humble
• bastardize
• pollute
• taint
• shame
• hurt
• canker
• profane
• impair
• contaminate
• warp
• harm
• dirty
• dishonor
• defile
• spoil
• water down
• wreck
• thin
• befoul
• stain
• descend
• tarnish
• deface
• flaw
• depreciate
• begrime
• take down
• downgrade
• blemish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elevate
• honor
• exalt
• uplift
• improve
• better
• ennoble
• enhance
• amend
• perfect
• ameliorate
• enrich
• dignify
• restore
• clean
• purify
• refine
• clarify
• cleanse
• respect
• meliorate

2

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

• humiliate
• discredit
• embarrass
• humble
• degrade
• debase
• disgrace
• dishonor
• shame
• demean
• chasten
• insult
• confuse
• cheapen
• rattle
• lower
• smirch
• take down
• mortify
• diminish
• criticize
• foul
• sink
• minimize
• ridicule
• disconcert
• abash
• belittle
• disparage
• discountenance
• detract
• confound
• depreciate
• slander
• defame
• discomfit
• faze
• condemn
• castigate
• defile
• malign
• affront
• fluster
• libel
• discount
• decry
• nonplus
• denounce
• write off
• censure
• execrate
• put down
• reprehend
• bad-mouth
• cry down
• damn
• reprobate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exalt
• elevate
• aggrandize
• honor
• boast
• deify
• recognize
• commend
• acknowledge
• praise
• congratulate
• cheer
• decorate
• canonize
• celebrate
• cite
• salute
• extol
• applaud
• compliment
• laud
• tout
• hail
• eulogize
• acclaim
• fete
• ennoble
• glorify
• dignify
• enthrone
• lift
• highlight
• promote
• play up
• raise
• magnify
• advance
• enshrine
• spotlight
• uplift
• boost
• upgrade
• idealize
• romanticize
• ensky

Example Sentences

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