1
as in degrades
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
2
as in humiliates
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debases
Freddy Krueger debases the suburban American ideal through the dreams of teenagers in Nightmare on Elm Street.
—
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debases
Verb
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That performance degrades over time.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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These help slow down the wear and tear that degrades most traditional joysticks over time.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There’s always a moment in which somebody humiliates the villain and now all the love in him is gone.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
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And Sacks, a PayPal Mafia member and veteran Silicon Valley investor, is just the sort of titan of industry this town routinely devours and humiliates — from Rex Tillerson to, well, Elon Musk.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
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And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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DiCaprio, 50, subverts his Hollywood leading man image by wearing a ratty red robe, unkempt hair and oversized sunglasses as former revolutionary and current stoner Bob Ferguson, who is forced back into action to save himself and his daughter (Chase Infiniti) from paramilitary enforcers.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement The film largely follows the trajectory of the novel, but changes some details along the way—and adds one new, final twist that subverts the overall message of King's dystopian tale.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement Our hygiene deteriorates.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The map, which is awaiting Kehoe’s signature, dilutes Kansas City-area voters into three Republican-leaning districts.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
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That’s what dilutes the art and creates cookie-cutter songs where everyone starts sounding like each other.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debases. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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