1
as in to reduce
to diminish the price or value of
a glutted market cheapened cranberries to the point where they were selling for less than what it cost to grow them
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
a politician who would cheapen herself by caving in to lobbyists
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
she really cheapens herself by shamelessly pursuing men like that
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cheapen
For some Snoopy enthusiasts, the high volume of Snoopy products borders on oversaturation, threatening to cheapen the spirit of the character.
—
Malia Mendez, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Thinking of this as just chapter one of a longer arc threatens to cheapen it a little in retrospect, especially if the finale is conclusive and satisfying.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Far from cheapening or diluting Ibsen’s themes and conflicts, the action revitalizes them.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
In this way, Bad Bunny’s popularity has not cheapened his message.
—Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cheapen
Malia Mendez, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Thinking of this as just chapter one of a longer arc threatens to cheapen it a little in retrospect, especially if the finale is conclusive and satisfying.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Far from cheapening or diluting Ibsen’s themes and conflicts, the action revitalizes them.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
In this way, Bad Bunny’s popularity has not cheapened his message.
—Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cheapen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheapen
Verb
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To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Gold has been one of the better-performing assets over the past year, and when markets get choppy, leveraged funds and institutional investors tend to reduce exposure.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Riboua was more skeptical, arguing that Hezbollah would likely survive the collapse of the government in Tehran but would be vastly degraded.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
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While nickel alone tends to degrade quickly, the carbon layer protects it from damage while still allowing the necessary reactions to occur.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And unlike some some prank shows, its intentions are good, its attitude humane — the entire purpose of the show is to bring out the best in its unsuspecting star, not to humiliate him.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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As 1994 approached, the United States was on the verge of hosting the World Cup — but national soccer officials were terrified that the home team was about to humiliate itself on a global stage.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For the country’s leadership, weakened militarily and more isolated than ever, inflicting economic suffering has become the most powerful weapon available.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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Continuous support could theoretically weaken muscles, so experts advise mixing exo use with traditional ergonomics and exercise.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company, run by two former Israeli intelligence agents, has been involved in a number of controversies over the years, including an undercover operation on behalf of the film mogul Harvey Weinstein to discredit his accusers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Over the past year, this FCC has attacked the media as part of a years-long campaign by this Administration and its allies to discredit factual, independent coverage while blaming the press for growing public distrust.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What starts as a series that aims to subvert the heist genre at every turn – amped with thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action – gives birth to an exploration of what drives us, sustains us, and ultimately destroys us.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
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Prison is where the former Mesa County Clerk belongs to serve the full sentence she was given for her multiple crimes to subvert our elections.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tonight’s ceremony had none of the major dramatic mishaps that have both embarrassed the Academy Awards’ organizers and affirmed the event’s status as must-see live TV.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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The Americans were left to root for the same team that embarrassed them, and that team delivered.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Walsh and other right-wing commentators, along with comedian Ben Bankas, underscored Good’s sexuality to further demean her.—
Aniko Bodroghkozy,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
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The imagery was largely criticized for echoing long-standing racist tropes that have historically been used to demean Black Americans.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cheapen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheapen. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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