Debased — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /di-ˈbās/ de·base

Meaning & Definition of Debased

Debased (verb)

  1. to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character
  2. to reduce the intrinsic value of (a coin) by increasing the base-metal content
  3. to reduce the exchange value of (a monetary unit)

Debased (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing lowered moral character or standards

    "a book that examines the debased character of the criminal mind"

    similar: corrupt, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped
    related: bent (chiefly British), crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked
    opposite: pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted
    near: incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Debased (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lower in character, dignity, or quality

    "we debase ourselves when we adopt the moral code and behavior of our despised enemies"

    similar: abased, bastardized, cankered, cheapened, corrupted, debauched, degraded, demeaned, demoralized, depraved, deteriorated, lessened, perverted, poisoned, profaned, prostituted, subverted, vitiated, warped
    related: befouled, begrimed, contaminated, defiled, diluted, dirtied, polluted, tainted, thinned, watered down, weakened, descended, disgraced, dishonored, humbled, humiliated, shamed, took down, blemished, damaged, defaced, destroyed, flawed, harmed, hurt, impaired, marred, ruined, spoiled, stained, tarnished, wrecked, depreciated, downgraded
    opposite: elevated, ennobled, uplifted
    near: dignified, exalted, honored, ameliorated, amended, bettered, enhanced, enriched, improved, meliorated, perfected, clarified, cleaned, cleansed, purified, refined, restored, respected

  2. to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes

    "our failure to win a single game completely debased us"

    similar: abased, chastened, cheapened, degraded, demeaned, discredited, disgraced, dishonored, fouled, humbled, humiliated, lowered, sank, shamed, smirched, took down
    related: abashed, confounded, confused, discomfited, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, fazed, flustered, mortified, nonplussed, rattled, belittled, castigated, cried down, criticized, decried, depreciated, detracted, diminished, discounted, disparaged, minimized, put down, ridiculed, wrote off, bad-mouthed, defamed, defiled, libeled, maligned, slandered, affronted, insulted, censured, condemned, damned, denounced, execrated, reprehended, reprobated
    opposite: aggrandized, canonized, deified, elevated, exalted
    near: acclaimed, applauded, boasted, celebrated, cheered, cited, commended, complimented, congratulated, decorated, eulogized, extolled, feted, hailed, honored, lauded, praised, saluted, touted, acknowledged, recognized, highlighted, played up, spotlighted, dignified, ennobled, enshrined, enskied, enthroned, glorified, magnified, advanced, boosted, lifted, promoted, raised, upgraded, uplifted, idealized, romanticized

Related Entry: Debase (verb)

Debase is a different word from Debased. The synonyms below are for debase, not for debased.

  1. to lower in character, dignity, or quality

    "we debase ourselves when we adopt the moral code and behavior of our despised enemies"

    similar: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp
    related: befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken, descend, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down, blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck, depreciate, downgrade
    opposite: elevate, ennoble, uplift
    near: dignify, exalt, honor, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore, respect

  2. to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes

    "our failure to win a single game completely debased us"

    similar: abase, chasten, cheapen, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, humble, humiliate, lower, shame, sink, smirch, take down
    related: abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off, bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander, affront, insult, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
    opposite: aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt
    near: acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge, recognize, highlight, play up, spotlight, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify, advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift, idealize, romanticize

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Debased

The most common words with a similar meaning to Debased:

corrupt, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped, abased, bastardized, cankered, cheapened, corrupted, demeaned, deteriorated, lessened, poisoned, profaned, prostituted, subverted, vitiated, chastened, discredited, disgraced, dishonored, fouled, humbled

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Debased

Words with the opposite meaning of Debased:

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, elevated, ennobled, uplifted, aggrandized, canonized, deified, exalted

Related Words for Debased

bent, crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked, befouled, begrimed, defiled, diluted, dirtied, polluted, thinned, watered down, weakened, descended, blemished

Near Antonyms of Debased

incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous, dignified, honored, ameliorated, amended, bettered, enhanced, enriched, improved, meliorated, perfected, clarified, cleaned, cleansed, purified, refined, restored, respected, acclaimed, applauded, boasted, celebrated, cheered

Word Forms of Debased

Inflections: debasing, debases

Derived words: debasement (noun), debaser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Debased

First known use: 1565

Frequently Asked Questions about Debased

What does "Debased" mean?

"Debased" means to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Debased"?

Other words for "Debased" include corrupt, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved and dissipated. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Debased" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Debased"?

There are 129 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Debased". Common alternatives include corrupt, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute and jackleg.

What is the opposite of "Debased"?

Antonyms of "Debased" include pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, elevated, ennobled, uplifted, aggrandized and canonized. Near antonyms include incorruptible, ethical, honest and principled.

How do you use "Debased" in a sentence?

Examples of "Debased" in a sentence: "a book that examines the debased character of the criminal mind"; "we debase ourselves when we adopt the moral code and behavior of our despised enemies"; "our failure to win a single game completely debased us".

Is "Debased" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Debased" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Debased"?

"Debased" is pronounced /di-ˈbās/ and divided into syllables as de·base.

What is the origin of the word "Debased"?

First known use: 1565.