debase

/dɪˈbeɪs/

/dɪˈbeɪs/

Other forms: debased; debasing; debases

To debase something is to make it corrupt or impure. If your lemonade stand sells “pure lemonade,” you’d insist on using real lemons instead of a mix; using a mix would debase your product.

Debase is often used in the context of two things: coins and people. To debase a coin is to replace some of the precious metal in the coin with metal of lesser value. To debase a person is to corrupt them, often by driving them to perform an immoral act like (gasp!) using the lemonade mix. Just promise us you won’t do it.

Definitions of debase

1. verb

   corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
   synonyms: adulterate, dilute, load, stretch

   extend, stretch

   increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance

   types:

   water down

   thin by adding water to

   doctor, doctor up, sophisticate

   alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive

   type of:

   corrupt, spoil

   alter from the original
2. verb

   lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
   synonyms: alloy

   type of:

   devalue

   lower the value or quality of
3. verb

   corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
   synonyms: corrupt, debauch, demoralise, demoralize, deprave, misdirect, pervert, profane, subvert, vitiate

   types:

   carnalise, carnalize, sensualise, sensualize

   debase through carnal gratification

   infect

   corrupt with ideas or an ideology

   lead astray, lead off

   teach immoral behavior to

   poison

   spoil as if by poison

   bastardise, bastardize

   change something so that its value declines; for example, art forms

   suborn

   incite to commit a crime or an evil deed

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation