Debase vs Besmirch - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between debase and besmirch

is that debase is to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade while besmirch is to make dirty; to soil.

(debas)

To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.

(archaic) To lower in position or rank.Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd ed., 1989.

To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.

* adulterate, degrade, demean

* debased * debasedness * debasement * debaser * undebased

(es)

To make dirty; to soil.

To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation; to debase.

The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor.