bastardize

verb

ˈba-stər-ˌdīz How to pronounce bastardize (audio)
Definition of bastardizenext
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality bastardize the art form by adapting it to popular taste

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 bastardize 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 See All Example Sentences for bastardize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bastardize
  1. degrade
  2. subvert
  3. corrupt
  4. dilute
  5. humiliate
  6. debase
  7. weaken
  8. destroy
Verb
  • With a major election less than a week away, candidates and their consultants are pounding Floridians with a barrage of words — some intended to cast themselves in a flattering light, some intended to smear and degrade their opponents.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Faulkner said he is fed up with Citation’s yearslong pattern of degrading his pastures.
    — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of degrade
Verb
  • Wachowski’s involvement brings her genre expertise to a film that is said to playfully subvert horror and comedy conventions.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Rendering bugs allowed attackers to subvert the chain of trust UEFI enforces and go on to install malicious components before the OS loaded or Secure Boot ran.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of subvert
Verb
  • At every stop, Talarico has argued that, for too long, the wealthy and their donations have corrupted politics, and that this corruption has fueled the affordability crisis.
    — STEVEN SLOAN, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • And that includes his warning that TV news has been corrupted by the agendas of the powerful, wealthy billionaires who now control a large portion of the media.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Verb
  • Cracking is when mapmakers try to divide a group of voters, breaking them up into multiple districts to dilute their voting power.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But disagreement over how to confront the challenge diluted the missions.
    — Dana Stroul, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dilute
Verb
  • Doing it this way doesn’t diminish or judge or humiliate her lived experience.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Smallwood attacks Nick’s virility, saying he’ll be publicly humiliated when his wife has to bail him out again in court.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of humiliate
Verb
  • At the same time, the Daily Beast reported on the Fielder fandom, with devotees praising his voice, competence and willingness to debase himself for the camera.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In my opinion, the president and his incompetent, corrupt acolytes have debased the office and dragged the good name of America through the mud.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of debase
Verb
  • The regime remains capable of suppressing any organized resistance in the country, but the growing disaffection of the elite threatens to weaken the state from within.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Eisenkot's allies could also try to reverse legislation advanced by Netanyahu's government that critics say weakened Israel's democratic institutions and judicial independence.
    — Itay Stern, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • The students on Thursday asked public servants to prevent outgoing officials from destroying documentation or evidence of potential wrongdoing.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • According to the Federal Trade Commission, destroy anything containing sensitive information to protect yourself from identity theft.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroy

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bastardize
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Cite this Entry

“Bastardize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bastardize. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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