DEBASE Synonyms: 160 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'debase' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of debase are corrupt , debauch , deprave , pervert , and vitiate . While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity. // commercialism has debased the holiday

Q: In what contexts can 'corrupt' take the place of 'debase'?

The words corrupt and debase can be used in similar contexts, but corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity. // the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

Q: When is it sensible to use 'debauch' instead of 'debase'?

The words debauch and debase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence. // the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

Q: Where would 'deprave' be a reasonable alternative to 'debase'?

While in some cases nearly identical to debase , deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences. // the claim that society is depraved by pornography

Q: When would 'pervert' be a good substitute for 'debase'?

The meanings of pervert and debase largely overlap; however, pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal. // perverted the original goals of the institute

Q: When is 'vitiate' a more appropriate choice than 'debase'?

While the synonyms vitiate and debase are close in meaning, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect. // a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

debase

verb

di-ˈbās

Definition of debase

as in to degrade

to lower in character, dignity, or quality we debase ourselves when we adopt the moral code and behavior of our despised enemies

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 our failure to win a single game completely debased us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word debase different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of debase are corrupt, debauch, deprave, pervert, and vitiate. While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

In what contexts can corrupt take the place of debase?

The words corrupt and debase can be used in similar contexts, but corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

When is it sensible to use debauch instead of debase?

The words debauch and debase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

Where would deprave be a reasonable alternative to debase?

While in some cases nearly identical to debase, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

When would pervert be a good substitute for debase?

The meanings of pervert and debase largely overlap; however, pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

When is vitiate a more appropriate choice than debase?

While the synonyms vitiate and debase are close in meaning, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

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 debase In order to emerge victorious in his quest to bring the World Cup to Mexico, De la Torre debases himself and backstabs shamelessly. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 Most of us would deny that any socially useful work can be or should be debasing. — Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 But, just as obsessive love in a relationship can warp intimacy, so excessive national pride can debase the nation that one is trying to protect. — Arthur Krystal, New Yorker, 25 May 2026 Just debase yourself for half a decade or so with a full-on teardown that involves at least three years of going 18-64, and maybe the league will hand you Victor Wembanyama as a reward. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 5 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for debase

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debase

Verb

With so few ancient samples of dodo DNA surviving—and that which does exist having degraded over the centuries—the analytic and number-crunching power of AI is just what’s needed to fill in the genetic blanks.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
The partnership aims to keep the platform connected when military operations disrupt or degrade individual network links.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

One of its proof points was supposed to be Maine, where Graham Platner humiliated the party establishment, then himself.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
This caution is surprising in a writer who has elsewhere been fearless about identity and America, attentive to the country’s institutional capacity to humiliate, compromise, and implicate the people who claim it.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

David Radcliff’s work crosses genres and formats, but his favorite projects are those that broaden understanding and empathy through humor and subverted expectations.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Similar to modern innuendo, phallic imagery was sometimes used to subvert taboos and humorously challenge norms.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of subvert

Verb

Its inclusion in the documentary has provided ammunition for Musk supporters and his lawyers to discredit the film, pointing to an unfounded conspiracy theory about SpaceX’s Starlink satellites interfering in the election.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Milli Vanilli won a Grammy, got all this attention and then got discredited and didn’t replace Barbra Streisand or Bruce Springsteen or Taylor Swift or the Eurythmics or The Rolling Stones.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

Once Isaias comes ashore, it is expected to weaken until it is downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane center said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Last but certainly not least, there’s the focus on communicating local relevancy as a differentiator without weakening brand equity and DNA.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

The left, of course, took this completely out of context because most things fly over their heads, and instead viewed it as Sweeney somehow demeaning women's sports.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The Democratic National Committee has also sued over the ads, which show numerous images of the president overlaid with quotes from recent speeches demeaning communism while also crediting himself for the largest tax cuts in history.

— Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of demean

Verb

Rousseau argued that societies were happiest before agriculture and metal production corrupted them.

— Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Documentarian Alex Gibney is no stranger to dissections of corrupting power — from his feature dives into Enron, Elizabeth Holmes and Scientology.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Verb

Just as bright, witty, and debauched as their namesake, this unique protagonist is on a path of self-discovery, gaining insight into not just their gender identity, but also their preternatural attraction to transgression and risk.

— Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
And regular Kate Moss’s turn on the decks one memorable, and debauched, night in 2015 had revelers literally swinging from the chandeliers.

— Nick Scott, Robb Report, 13 June 2026

Definition of debauch

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debars

debase

debased

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“Debase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debase. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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