debase
debase — verb
- debasepresent simple I / you / we / they
- debaseshe / she / it
- debasedpast simple
- debasing-ing form
1. to make a product, standard, or quality become poorer than it was before, often
to make a product, standard, or quality become poorer than it was before, often by mixing in something inferior or by reducing what made it good.
The restaurant debased its reputation by serving frozen food instead of fresh ingredients.
collocation: debase reputation / debase quality
Using cheap artificial flavours can debase the taste of what was once a fine recipe.
debase + abstract noun (taste)
The museum director warned that selling fake artefacts would debase the collection's scholarly value.
Quan thought the new logo was too flashy and would debase the brand's classic image.
The publisher debased the paper quality, and readers complained the books fell apart too quickly.
文法句型
debase + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in passive constructions (be debased) when describing how products, standards, or reputations have been made worse. The direct object is usually an abstract noun such as quality, standard, reputation, image, or value.
常見錯誤
2. to cause a person or group to lose their moral principles or self-respect, makin
to cause a person or group to lose their moral principles or self-respect, making them behave in a way that is shameful or dishonourable.
The gossip magazine debased its journalists by asking them to spy on grieving families.
debase + collective human object
Imani believed that lying to win the election would debase the entire political process.
Eve refused to debase herself by begging for a promotion she had earned fairly.
The warden's cruel treatment debased the prisoners and stripped them of their dignity.
A soldier who harms innocent civilians debases the uniform and the values it represents.
文法句型
debase + noun phrase
debase + oneself
用法筆記
The reflexive form (debase oneself) is common when describing an individual's voluntary loss of dignity. Distinguish from Sense 1: Sense 2 targets moral character and human subjects, while Sense 1 targets the quality of objects or standards.
常見錯誤
3. to reduce the real value of a country's money, either by mixing cheaper metals i
to reduce the real value of a country's money, either by mixing cheaper metals into coins or through economic policies that lower its purchasing power.
The Roman emperor debased the silver denarius by adding copper to the coin mixture.
historical context: Roman coinage
When a government debases its currency, citizens find their savings buy less than before.
Economists warned that printing more money without economic growth would further debase the national currency.
Historians trace Spain's economic collapse to the decision to debase gold coinage in the 1600s.
The finance minister resisted pressure to debase the currency because it would harm pensioners.
- devalue
the standard modern term for reducing a currency's value; less historical weight
- depreciate
can describe a currency losing value over time through market forces
- appreciate
when a currency gains value relative to others
文法句型
debase + noun phrase
用法筆記
Primarily used in historical or economic writing. The object is always a form of money (currency, coinage, coin, denarius). Not used for general price reduction — 'devalue' or 'depreciate' is preferred in modern finance.