debasement

/diˈbeɪsmənt/

Other forms: debasements

Debasement is the process of spoiling something or reducing its value by combining it with another material. Debasement can also refer to degrading or disgracing someone.

The noun debasement can be used in an economic context to mean "lower the value of currency or money," usually referring to coins made of gold or silver that has been mixed with cheaper metals. In the old days, debasement generally meant the removal of someone's knighthood: "The knight's treasonous actions meant certain debasement by the king." Today you might hear someone complain about the debasement of politics caused by big money.

Definitions of debasement

1. noun

   being mixed with extraneous material; the product of adulterating
   synonyms: adulteration

   type of:

   impureness, impurity

   the condition of being impure
2. noun

   a change to a lower state (a less respected state)
   synonyms: degradation

   types:

   dehumanisation, dehumanization

   the act of degrading people with respect to their best qualities

   animalisation, animalization, brutalisation, brutalization

   an act that makes people cruel or lacking normal human qualities

   barbarisation, barbarization

   an act that makes people primitive and uncivilized

   bastardisation, bastardization

   an act that debases or corrupts

   corruption, subversion

   destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity

   demoralisation, demoralization

   destroying the moral basis for a doctrine or policy

   constipation, deadening, impairment, stultification

   the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)

   popularisation, popularization, vulgarisation, vulgarization

   the act of making something attractive to the general public

   profanation

   degradation of something worthy of respect; cheapening

   abasement, humiliation

   depriving one of self-esteem

   vulgarisation, vulgarization

   the act of rendering something coarse and unrefined

   comedown

   decline to a lower status or level

   type of:

   change of state

   the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics