debase

What does “debase” mean?

verb.to reduce (something) in quality or value; to degrade.

SAT Usage

debase is often used in contexts related to ethics, economics, or cultural criticism, emphasizing the negative impact of lowering standards or values. It implies a deliberate action that not only diminishes quality but also reflects moral or social degradation, distinguishing it from words like diminish or reduce, which lack the same moral connotation.

Common Confusions

Debase implies a deliberate degradation of quality or value, while diminish usually suggests a more passive or natural reduction without moral implications.

Example Sentences

• Cheap tabloids often debase public discourse.

• The relentless criticism from his peers began to debase his confidence, leaving him questioning his abilities despite his previous achievements.

Word Parts: How to Remember “debase”

Break “debase” into its parts: de- (down, away, un-). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: de- down, away, un- (Latin)