What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Debase vs Depreciate - What's the difference?

debase | depreciate |

In transitive terms the difference between debase and depreciate

is that debase is to lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins while depreciate is to belittle.

debase

English

Verb

(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.

    • Synonyms

    * adulterate, degrade, demean

    Derived terms

    * debased * debasedness * debasement * debaser * undebased

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    depreciate

    English

    Verb

    (depreciat)
  • To lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of; to represent as of little value or claim to esteem; to undervalue.
  • * (rfdate) Cudworth
    • some over-severe philosophers may look upon fastidiously, or undervalue and depreciate .
  • * (rfdate) Burke
    • To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to depreciate the value of freedom itself.
  • To decline in value over time.
  • To belittle.

    • Usage notes

    * Do not confuse with deprecate , which means 'to disapprove of'. The meaning of deprecate'' has lately been encroaching on ''depreciate in the sense 'to belittle'.

    Synonyms

    * (reduce in value over time) * (belittle) do down

    Antonyms

    * (reduce in value over time) appreciate * (belittle) aggrandise/aggrandize, big up (slang)