Synonyms of debase

43 similar words · 2 opposite words

Another word for debase is degrade. Other synonyms of debase are dirty, devalue, demean, depreciate and abase. The opposite of debase is enhance.

Synonyms and similar words for debase

abaseTo lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to...
adulterateTo make less valuable or spoil (something) by adding impurities or other substances.
degradeTo lower in value or social position.
demeanTo humble; to humiliate.
debauchTo debase (something); to lower the value of (something).

cut down to size
demoteTo lower the rank or status of.
humbleTo defeat or reduce the power, independence, or pride of.
bring down to sizeSynonym of cut down to size.
defameTo disgrace; to bring into disrepute.
depressTo bring down or humble; to abase (pride, etc.).
discreditTo harm the good reputation of (a person).
disgraceTo put someone or something out of favor; to bring shame or ignominy upon.
dishonourTo bring disgrace upon someone or something; to shame.
disparageTo dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak...
downgradeTo disparage.
give a bad nameTo cause people to lose respect, reverence or esteem for something or someone.
humiliateTo cause to be ashamed; to injure the dignity and self-respect of.
knock down to sizeSynonym of cut down to size.
put someone in their placeTo bring somebody down; to humble or rebuke.
reduceTo bring to an inferior rank; to degrade, to demote.
relegateConsign (a person or thing) to a place, position, or role of obscurity, insignificance, oblivion, lower rank or...
sink figurativelyTo cause to decline; to depress or degrade.
slurTo soil; to sully; to contaminate; to disgrace.
trim down to sizeSynonym of cut down to size.
whittle down to sizeSynonym of cut down to size.
embase archaicTo bring down or lower in position, status, etc.; to degrade, humiliate.

adulter
alloyTo impair or debase by mixture.
adulterize
corruptTo debase or make impure by alterations or additions; to falsify.
bastardizeTo reduce from a higher to a lower state, such as by removing refined elements or introducing debased elements; to...
dilute
sophisticate figuratively
balderdash archaicTo mix or adulterate.
dash datedTo mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality.

depreciateTo lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of.
devalueTo lower or remove the value of something.
devaluateTo devalue, reduce in value.
dirtyTo debase by distorting the real nature of (something).
vitiateTo spoil, make faulty; to reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of something.
avile obsoleteTo abase or debase; to vilify; to depreciate.
elevate obsoleteTo promote (someone) to a higher rank.

verb To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.
verb To lower in position or rank.
verb To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.

What is another word for debase?: Debase has 43 synonyms on Word.ws, such as degrade, dirty, devalue, demean, depreciate, abase, vitiate and debauch.
What is the opposite of debase?: The opposite of debase is enhance.
What does debase mean?: Debase means to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.

Adapted from Wiktionary: debase (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “Synonyms of debase.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/debase. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.