de
base
Third Person
debases
Present Participle
debasing
Past Tense
debased
Past Participle
debased
1
to reduce the intrinsic value or quality of something, especially currency, by decreasing the amount of valuable material it contains
- In ancient times, rulers would debase coins by diluting the precious metal content to finance their expenditures.
- Historical records indicate instances where rulers chose to debase coins, compromising the integrity of the monetary system for short-term financial gains.
- In an attempt to cover budget shortfalls, certain civilizations historically resorted to debasing their coinage, diminishing the value of the currency in circulation.
- Economic mismanagement has sometimes led governments to debase their currency, resulting in a loss of trust in the monetary system.
- During times of economic crisis, governments might debase their currency by reducing the precious metal content to generate more money.
Synonyms:
2
corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
Synonyms:
3
to tarnish someone's character or morals
- The scandal debased the politician’s once-respected reputation.
- She felt that his cruel comments were meant to debase her character.
- The media coverage had debased the public’s perception of the celebrity.
- They had debased his achievements by spreading false rumors.
- The defamatory articles had debased the company's image considerably.