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GRE vocabulary

debase

verbHigh-frequency wordMore D words

to lower in quality, value, or dignity

Word origin: From de- (down) plus base, low, via Old French bas.

In a sentence

Debase in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing debase in a sentence.

Flooding the market with cheap imitations debased the brand's reputation.

Flooding the market with counterfeit coins only served to debase the currency's value.

Synonyms
degradecheapencorrupt
Antonyms
elevateennobleenhance
Usage & nuance

Using “debase” well

Debase means to lower in quality, worth, or dignity and pairs with degrade and cheapen. It can apply to morals, coinage, or reputation, always implying a fall from a higher state.

Common questions

Questions about “debase

Debase (verb) means to lower in quality, value, or dignity
Here is debase used in an example sentence: "Flooding the market with cheap imitations debased the brand's reputation." Another example: "Flooding the market with counterfeit coins only served to debase the currency's value."
Common synonyms for debase include degrade, cheapen, corrupt.
Antonyms of debase include elevate, ennoble, enhance.
Clusters with degrade, cheapen, and corrupt in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms elevate, ennoble, and enhance describe raising rather than lowering.
Yes. Debase is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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