1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
the debasement of professional sports to a shamelessly commercial enterprise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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
Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2020
But as Johnson’s policies in Vietnam provoked rising opposition in the country, factions within the Democratic Party launched a ferocious and debasing assault against his reelection campaign in 1968.
—Lawrence R. Jacobs / Made By History, TIME, 22 July 2024
The only way to get an exception from the I.D. mandate is to take some kind of debasing job.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 July 2024
Yet Kanafani also wants readers to understand that even those who resist may be humiliated and debased.
—Graham Liddell, The Conversation, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for debase 
Verb
Antiestablishment fever has debased policy debate and loosened the checks on executive power that generate consistency.
—Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2020
But as Johnson’s policies in Vietnam provoked rising opposition in the country, factions within the Democratic Party launched a ferocious and debasing assault against his reelection campaign in 1968.
—Lawrence R. Jacobs / Made By History, TIME, 22 July 2024
The only way to get an exception from the I.D. mandate is to take some kind of debasing job.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 July 2024
Yet Kanafani also wants readers to understand that even those who resist may be humiliated and debased.
—Graham Liddell, The Conversation, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for debase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debase
Verb
-
Anything infused with essential oils will have a shorter shelf life; these candles tend to degrade after about two years.Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2024
-
That microgravity explains why vision tends to degrade over time, and being in space could result in cognitive declines long-term.Katie Hunt, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
To see the reigning English champions humiliated and humbled in such a manner is a very rare event.Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
-
Teeny feels humiliated over the fact that Genevieve left her out of the Sol vote, which is more than understandable.Nick Caruso, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Pumping to supply farms and cities has contributed to the ecological degradation of the Delta, where fish populations have suffered declines in recent years.Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Even slightly warm bread will produce condensation within its packaging, which leads to instant quality degradation and faster spoilage.Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Legal experts are split on whether Yoon’s actions meet the criteria for insurrection, which is defined as a deliberate attempt to subvert the country’s constitution.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
-
In addition to the Georgia defamation lawsuit, Giuliani faces criminal cases in Arizona and Georgia over efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
In states where bans have passed through the legislature, including in Tennessee, testimony from those opposing such care has often been discredited—yet politicians pass the bans anyway, often along party lines.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
-
Trump also openly campaigned on pardoning supporters who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot — discrediting the notion that the Hunter Biden case will somehow give Trump political cover to issue controversial pardons.Zachary Basu, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
This couldn’t be further from the truth—especially the part about Trump’s corruption and self-dealing being no different from the norm—but Biden is doing the work of people who want to wreck the best aspects of America’s democratic ethos.Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
-
Journalists and prosecutors have suggested Trump could order the Justice Department to dismiss the federal corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams or pardon him if he’s convicted.Sara Dorn, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Russia ruble rout The Russian ruble weakened to 114 against the dollar on Wednesday.Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 Nov. 2024
-
Russia's Central Bank (CBR) intervened on Wednesday to prop up the plummeting ruble, which weakened to 114 against the U.S. dollar, its lowest since March 2022 during the first weeks of Putin's full-scale invasion.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The two musicians released several tunes, with each one aiming to insult and demean the other, while also showcasing the talents of the artist behind the cut. Lamar and Drake both ended up scoring big hits on the Billboard charts with their diss tunes.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
-
Trump won’t do anything for you, other than denigrate and demean you.Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 16 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near debase
Cite this Entry
“Debase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debase. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share