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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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
And the body that sold stories like Chambliss’s for years, who swore compensating players would cheapen the game, is the only entity who wants his story to end.
—
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Assigning a dollar value to life was never meant to cheapen it; it was meant to ensure it wasn’t lost.
—
Andrew Behar,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
And such a misapplication cheapens it and robs it of its spiritual beauty and impact.
—
James Coffin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
The result is that sports are cheapened, perhaps irredeemably.
—
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheapen
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Assigning a dollar value to life was never meant to cheapen it; it was meant to ensure it wasn’t lost.
—
Andrew Behar,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
And such a misapplication cheapens it and robs it of its spiritual beauty and impact.
—
James Coffin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
The result is that sports are cheapened, perhaps irredeemably.
—
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheapen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheapen
Verb
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New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.
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The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.
Verb
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This involves sealing all cracks, crevices and entry points with materials that won't degrade over time.
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Batteries degrade, actuators wear out, sensors drift, and every safety case has to hold.
Verb
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Only the United States was humiliated; both countries have experienced a catastrophic loss.
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However, they were then humiliated 2-1, after extra time, by second division side Torreense in the final.
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.
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This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.
Verb
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These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation.
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Director Wes Craven executes a masterclass in tension, shock, and subverting expectations.
Verb
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Critics wondered whether prices would crash before kickoff, and if swathes of empty seats would embarrass FIFA’s pricing strategy.
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With no league and no roadmap, a ragtag group of players and an unlikely coach endured a grueling two-year training camp, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever World Cup on American soil.
Verb
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Racists dismissed them as lesser beings, demeaned them and made life hard for all people of color — whites-only facilities and hard jobs.
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Inspectors documented staff using demeaning language, displaying extremist imagery, and engaging in conduct that violated the Bureau’s own standards.
Cite this Entry
“Cheapen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheapen. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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