debase
/di'beis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To lower in character, quality, or value: To make something less pure, less valuable, or less respectable.
- To corrupt morally: To cause someone to decline in moral standards or dignity.
Usage
- The verb "debase" is transitive and requires a direct object. It is often used in formal or serious contexts to describe actions that diminish the intrinsic worth or dignity of a person, thing, or concept.
- Common collocations include: , , , .
Examples
- Lowering quality/value:
- The government's decision to print excessive money will debase the currency.
- Adding filler ingredients debases the quality of the product.
- Corrupting morally:
- He felt that accepting the bribe would debase his integrity as a judge.
- The scandal served to debase the office of the presidency.
Advanced Usage
- "debase oneself": To lower one's own dignity or moral standards through one's actions.
- She refused to debase herself by spreading malicious gossip.
- In economic contexts: Often used specifically to describe the act of reducing the value of money, especially by reducing the precious metal content in coins.
- Ancient rulers would often debase the coinage to fund wars.
Variants and Related Words
- Debasement (n): The act or process of debasing; the state of being debased.
- The debasement of the political discourse was concerning.
- Debased (adj): Having been reduced in quality, value, or moral character.
- He spoke in a debased form of the dialect.
Synonyms
- Degrade: To lower in dignity or estimation.
- Demean: To lower in character, status, or reputation.
- Adulterate: To corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding inferior substances.
- Corrupt: To cause to become morally depraved.
- Devalue: To reduce the value of.
Antonyms
- Elevate: To raise in rank or status.
- Ennoble: To dignify or honor.
- Purify: To make pure; to cleanse from impurities.
- Appreciate: To increase in value.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Debase the coinage": Literally, to reduce the precious metal content of money; figuratively, to lower the standard or quality of something fundamental.
- Using jargon and buzzwords constantly debases the coinage of professional communication.
Verb
- corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
- adulterate liquor
- lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
- corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
- debauch the young people with wine and women
- Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
- Do school counselors subvert young children?
- corrupt the morals