Definitions:

1. Belittling or demeaning someone either mentally, physically or socially. VERB
   • The tyrant sought to abase anyone who dared to challenge his authority.
2. Reducing someone's dignity or self-respect. VERB
   • She refused to abase herself by apologizing for something she didn't do.
3. To behave in a way that lowers or reduces someone's rank, dignity, or status, or causes them to lose self-respect. VERB
   • No one should have to abase themselves to gain acceptance from others.
4. To degrade, humiliate, or lower in rank, status, or esteem. VERB
   • The manager's harsh criticism was intended to abase his employees, making them feel incompetent and undervalued.

Synonyms:

• belittle
• degrade
• demean
• discredit
• disgrace
• dishonor
• humble
• humiliate
• mortify
• shame

NearBy Words:

• abasement