cheapen

verb

cheap·​en ˈchē-pən How to pronounce cheapen (audio)
cheapened; cheapening ˈchēp-niŋ How to pronounce cheapen (audio)
ˈchē-pə-

transitive verb

1
[obsolete English cheap to price, bid for] archaic
a
: to ask the price of
b
: to bid or bargain for
2
a
: to make cheap in price or value
b
: to lower in general esteem
c
: to make tawdry, vulgar, or inferior

intransitive verb

: to become cheap

Examples of cheapen in a Sentence

products cheapened by sloppy workmanship Using the national flag in advertising only cheapens it. Poor marketing can cheapen a brand name. I thought that the show cheapened the lives of the people it portrayed. The wedding ceremony was cheapened by the best man's tasteless jokes.
Recent Examples on the Web George Skelton: Schiff cheapened himself with his cynical effort to help Garvey in Senate race. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 This false conflation between antisemitism and anti-Zionism cheapens real acts of antisemitism that harm us all. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 Luther doesn’t not shy away from the hardships in his life, and how the media often cheapened his accomplishments by fixating on his weight. Kui Mwai, Essence, 30 Jan. 2024 There are some things that cannot be intellectualized, and indeed the attempt to do so cheapens them. Nicholas Gallagher, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024 There are many collective qualms with this, of course, from some saying this cheapens the value of a hair appointment, to others arguing that this goes against the self-care ethos of the hair grooming industry. Tayler Adigun, Essence, 4 Jan. 2024 Prequels sometimes feel unnecessary and can even cheapen the original stories. Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023 And sleep inequality, that matter of justice, is cheapened to a matter of branding. Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2023 The government could further cheapen the yuan by selling it on global markets. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cheapen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheapen was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near cheapen

Cite this Entry

“Cheapen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheapen. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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