as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the debasement of professional sports to a shamelessly commercial enterprise
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Recent Examples of debasement
Over and over, Colin takes stock of his own debasement.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Bitcoin has failed to respond to typical drivers like dollar weakness or geopolitical risk, unlike gold and silver which rallied to records as global tensions fueled fears about dollar debasement.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Gold in particular has been buoyed by a mix of geopolitical tensions, fiscal uncertainty and concerns over currency debasement, forces that many believe remain firmly in place.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
The debasement trade has gained momentum on speculation that US authorities might be willing to work with their Japanese counterparts to support the yen — and thereby are open to a weaker greenback.
—Marcus Wong, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
Powell did not directly address the longer-term debasement argument, but his emphasis on anchored expectations suggests the Fed sees little evidence that the gold rally reflects a fundamental erosion of monetary credibility.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
In this case, a life, however brief, that is clean and does not depend on the oppression and debasement of others.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
In that corner of the market, the debasement trade endured — less as a sweeping judgment on fiat, more as a focused bet on rates, policy and protection.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Investor demand has also been underpinned by debasement trade, as concerns over swelling debt loads drive a retreat from sovereign bonds and the currencies they are issued in.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Bitcoin has failed to respond to typical drivers like dollar weakness or geopolitical risk, unlike gold and silver which rallied to records as global tensions fueled fears about dollar debasement.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Gold in particular has been buoyed by a mix of geopolitical tensions, fiscal uncertainty and concerns over currency debasement, forces that many believe remain firmly in place.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
The debasement trade has gained momentum on speculation that US authorities might be willing to work with their Japanese counterparts to support the yen — and thereby are open to a weaker greenback.
—Marcus Wong, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
Powell did not directly address the longer-term debasement argument, but his emphasis on anchored expectations suggests the Fed sees little evidence that the gold rally reflects a fundamental erosion of monetary credibility.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
In this case, a life, however brief, that is clean and does not depend on the oppression and debasement of others.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
In that corner of the market, the debasement trade endured — less as a sweeping judgment on fiat, more as a focused bet on rates, policy and protection.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Investor demand has also been underpinned by debasement trade, as concerns over swelling debt loads drive a retreat from sovereign bonds and the currencies they are issued in.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debasement
Noun
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To more explicitly address his concerns about environmental degradation, Lambert attached an infographic and explanatory statement next to his work.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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As a result of the degradation, there is a higher risk of metal fragments being launched into the cabin by the airbags when deployed.—
Liam Rappleye,
Freep.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Texas attorney general beat a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges and reached a deal to end a long-running securities fraud case but now faces a contentious divorce over allegations of adultery.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
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Demonstrators called for the country’s leaders to step down over widespread corruption, government paralysis and failing infrastructure, and for an end to the country’s sectarian power-sharing system.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debasement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debasement. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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