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

Simply douse it with mildly alkaline water, and the polymer begins degrading, breaking down within minutes.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Enhancing an enzyme’s plastic-degrading speed typically required extensive genetic modifications that compromised its structural integrity.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

But the Saudis, humiliated by their losses in Yemen, seem likely to lash out.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
When she and the other part-time employees were told their positions were being eliminated, Valcarcel said she felt humiliated and disrespected.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

This rousing tribute to the free press, delivered by the son of a journalist, was followed by the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s Ink, a film about how the journalists at British tabloid The Sun ended up debasing our entire society.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of debase

Verb

His appellate legal team has been aggressively searching for any and every legal avenue that would overturn the judge’s sentence, nullify the jury’s guilty verdict, or even discredit the very criminal law that Combs was prosecuted under.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
As this is not always possible, there can be competition among rainmakers trying to discredit each other, said 30-year-old Kilindon Simiyu, another of the village's rainmakers.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

Higher borrowing costs can eventually weaken loan demand and increase stress among borrowers.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent polling supports the article’s claim that Latino support has weakened amid concerns about inflation, immigration enforcement, jobs and wages.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Ten lions found dead in a wildlife reserve in Tanzania are suspected to have been poisoned, according to wildlife officials.

— Kristin Wright, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
The attacks escalated this summer, with 16 trees — 13 Jeffrey pines and three white firs — poisoned on three occasions between May and early August.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

Two years before that he was given a final warning when WhatsApp messages demeaning Strauss, then England captain, were sent to England’s opponents South Africa by Pietersen.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
But opposing an immigration policy does not give anyone license to demean people because of their race or ethnicity.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of demean

Verb

But, in Hagwon, Lee does not seem interested in the ways in which her diplomatic, kind, generous characters might be corrupted.

— Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
And by engaging with these powerful militaries, the group reinforced its self-image as a major regional player that was uniquely capable of liberating the Muslim world from corrupting American and Israeli influence.

— April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of corrupt

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abandons

abase

abased

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“Abase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abase. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of abase

verb

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