Debase (Verb)
Meaning 1
Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones; "adulterate liquor".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The company's reputation was tarnished when it was discovered they had been caught debasing their expensive perfumes by mixing in cheaper fragrances.
- Their competitors were accused of trying to debase their rival's products by secretly adding lower-quality ingredients to the manufacturing process.
- The government launched an investigation into allegations that the corrupt suppliers had been debasing the milk by adding water to it.
- Inspectors were able to uncover the truth that some dishonest traders were debasing the imported spices by mixing them with readily available local fillers.
- A few employees were found to be debasing the precious gemstones by incorporating various compounds to artificially inflate their carat weights.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
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".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The excessive privileges given to the powerful elite serve to debase the moral fabric of society.
- Exposure to violent movies at a young age can debase a child's perception of the world.
- The corrupt politician was accused of using his influence to debase the innocent by offering them bribes.
- Prolonged exposure to immorality can debase even the most upright individual.
- Their warped sense of morality served to debase every noble cause they pretended to champion.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
- Lead Astray
- Bastardise
- Carnalize
- Infect
- Poison
- Sensualise
- Carnalise
- Sensualize
- Bastardize
- Suborn
- Lead Off
Related Words
Meaning 3
Lower in value by increasing the base-metal content.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The government decided to debase the currency by adding more copper to the coins to conserve precious metals.
- During times of economic trouble, kings would debase their coins with lower-value metals to stretch the treasury.
- Historically, debasing of currency led to severe economic consequences, such as inflation and loss of trust in the monetary system.
- In an attempt to extend their gold supplies, some rulers chose to debase their coins by reducing the amount of gold they contained.
- The reduction in the silver content of the coinage debased the currency and resulted in a significant loss of purchasing power for the citizens.