Abase vs. Debase: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Abase means to lower in rank, esteem, or prestige, while debase refers to reducing the quality or value, especially of moral or artistic standards.
Key Differences
Abase primarily refers to the act of lowering someone in rank, esteem, or honor. It's a term often used in social or hierarchical contexts to describe the diminishing of someone's status or dignity. Debase, on the other hand, typically pertains to the reduction in quality or value, especially in the context of moral or artistic standards. This term is commonly associated with the corruption or dilution of purity, whether in a physical, moral, or intellectual sense.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
The usage of "abase" often implies a deliberate action to diminish the standing or respect of someone or something in the eyes of others. It can encompass both literal and figurative lowering. For instance, abasing a king would mean dethroning or diminishing his authority. Debase, in contrast, is used more in the sense of corrupting or adulterating something, such as debasing a currency by adding inferior metals, or debasing a language by incorporating slang.
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Nov 20, 2023
The emotional connotation of abase is typically more personal and directly related to dignity or honor. When someone is abased, there is a direct impact on their self-esteem or social standing. Debase, while also negative, leans more towards an impersonal degradation, like the debasement of a principle or an object. It's about diminishing the inherent value or purity of something rather than its social standing.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
In a linguistic context, abase is often used in situations that involve human interactions and social hierarchies. It’s less about the intrinsic quality of a person or object and more about their perceived value or status in a societal framework. Debase, conversely, is frequently employed in discussions about quality, purity, or authenticity. It is more about the intrinsic attributes of an object or concept being compromised or diminished.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Finally, while both abase and debase carry negative connotations, the former is more closely tied to social or hierarchical power dynamics, and the latter to the corruption or dilution of inherent qualities. Understanding the nuances between these two words is crucial in accurately conveying the intended meaning in both spoken and written communication.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Typical Usage
In relation to dignity or respect
In relation to intrinsic qualities
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Nov 20, 2023
Emotional Implication
Affects personal dignity
Affects the perception of purity or authenticity
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Nov 20, 2023
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Abase and Debase Definitions
Abase
To diminish in honor or respect.
She would not abase her principles, even under pressure.
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Nov 20, 2023
Debase
To reduce in quality or purity.
The artist refused to debase his work with commercial interests.
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Nov 20, 2023
Abase
To reduce in status or respect.
The scandal served to abase the politician in the public's eye.
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Nov 20, 2023
Debase
To degrade or spoil.
The addition of cheap materials debased the once luxurious brand.
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Nov 20, 2023
Abase
To lower oneself in dignity.
He abased himself by lying to gain favor.
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Nov 20, 2023
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Debase
To corrupt or adulterate.
The company was accused of debasing its products to increase profits.
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Nov 20, 2023
Abase
To lower in rank or esteem.
The general was abased after the failed mission.
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Nov 20, 2023
Debase
To diminish in moral or aesthetic value.
The script was debased with unnecessary vulgarities.
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Nov 20, 2023
Abase
To humiliate or degrade.
He refused to abase himself in front of his peers.
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Nov 20, 2023
Debase
To lower in status, quality, or character.
He debased himself by engaging in unethical practices.
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Nov 20, 2023
Abase
(transitive) To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate.
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Oct 19, 2023
Abase
To lower physically; to depress; to cast or throw down; to stoop.
To abase the eye
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Oct 19, 2023
Abase
To lower in value, in particular by altering the content of alloys in coins; to debase.
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Oct 19, 2023
Debase
(transitive) To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.
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Oct 19, 2023
Abase
To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye.
Saying so, he abased his lance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Debase
To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words.
The coin which was adulterated and debased.
It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with such frivolous disputes.
And to debase the sons, exalts the sires.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Abase
To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to depress; to humble; to degrade.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased.
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Oct 19, 2023
Debase
Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality;
Debauch the young people with wine and women
Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
Do school counselors subvert young children?
Corrupt the morals
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Oct 19, 2023
Abase
Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of;
He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss
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Oct 19, 2023
Debase
Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones;
Adulterate liquor
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "abase" be used in a positive context?
Rarely, as it generally has a negative connotation of lowering status or respect.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Can "abase" be used in a non-social context?
It's primarily used in social contexts related to status or dignity.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
What does "abase" mean?
It means to lower someone in rank, esteem, or dignity.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Is "abase" a common word in everyday language?
It's more formal and less common in casual conversation.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is "debase" specific to material things?
It can refer to both material and immaterial things like values or language.
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Nov 20, 2023
What does "debase" mean?
It means to reduce in quality, purity, or moral integrity.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can "debase" imply a physical alteration?
Yes, like debasing a metal by mixing it with an inferior substance.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can "abase" be reflexive?
Yes, one can abase themselves, meaning to lower their own dignity.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can "abase" be used in a political context?
Yes, in the context of lowering someone's political standing.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Are "abase" and "debase" interchangeable?
No, they have different contexts and connotations.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Does "abase" always imply intention?
Typically, yes, as it often involves a deliberate act of lowering status.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Can "debase" be used in a financial context?
Yes, like debasing a currency.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is "debase" commonly used in everyday language?
It's more common in formal or technical contexts.
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Nov 20, 2023
Does "debase" always imply a negative outcome?
Generally, yes, as it involves reducing quality or moral value.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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