debasement
Lowering of worth
Debasement is the act of lowering something in quality, value, or dignity.
Currency debasement historically meant reducing precious metal content while maintaining face value; now it often refers to inflation eroding purchasing power.
More broadly, debasement describes any degradation or corruption: the debasement of public discourse, a debasement of artistic standards.
Self-debasement is humiliating oneself, whether through groveling behavior or degrading acts.
Reducing in value
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- dilutionReduction in concentration
- adulterationCorrupting by foreign substances
- degradationDecline in condition
corruption · contamination · lowering · decline · erosion · impairment · diminishment · downgrade
Decline in condition
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- depravityProfound moral corruption
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
- perversionCorruption or deviant distortion
vice · immorality · turpitude · degeneracy · wickedness · sin · iniquity · profligacy
Lowering of currency worth
- inflationSustained price level increase
- clippingPiece cut out
- counterfeitingMaking fake money
- depreciationAsset value reduction over time
dilution · minting · alloy · bullion · fiat · denomination · circulation · coinage
Decline in condition
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- disgraceLoss of honor
- dishonorLoss of respect
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
indignity · belittlement · denigration · disrespect · mockery · ridicule · subjugation · stigmatization
Dishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- venalityOpenness to bribes
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
cronyism · nepotism · embezzlement · exploitation · collusion · misconduct · scandal · profiteering
cheapening
Reducing in value
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- dilutionReduction in concentration
- adulterationCorrupting by foreign substances
degradation · corruption · contamination · lowering · decline · erosion · impairment · diminishment · downgrade · decay
degradation
Decline in condition
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- depravityProfound moral corruption
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
perversion · vice · immorality · turpitude · degeneracy · wickedness · sin · iniquity · profligacy · licentiousness
devaluation
Lowering of currency worth
- inflationSustained price level increase
- clippingPiece cut out
- counterfeitingMaking fake money
depreciation · dilution · minting · alloy · bullion · fiat · denomination · circulation · coinage · adulteration
degradation
Decline in condition
mortification · indignity · belittlement · denigration · disrespect · mockery · ridicule · subjugation · stigmatization · dehumanization
corruption
Dishonest abuse of power
malfeasance · cronyism · nepotism · embezzlement · exploitation · collusion · misconduct · scandal · profiteering · extortion
- humiliationashamed, embarrassed, chagrin, mortified, degradation
- crueltycruelty, brutality, inhumanity, viciousness, ruthlessness
- currency historygold standard, silver standard, bimetallism, fiat money, fiat currency
- social crueltybullying, harassment, humiliation, shaming, mocking
- value decreasesdepreciation, markdown, discount, price cut, writedown
- numismaticscoin collecting, coin, coinage, coin collections, rare coins
debasementvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · morality · goodness · ennoblement · integrity
debasementrefinement
Elegance of manner
enhancement · enrichment · elevation · improvement · appreciation
debasementglorification
Elevating praise or worship
exaltation · elevation · dignification · ennoblement · dignity
- currency debasementReducing money's intrinsic worth