as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
bastardize the art form by adapting it to popular taste
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Recent Examples of bastardize
Over the years, though, the cocktail has become bastardized into a sugary drink containing all sorts of fruit juices and sweeteners, causing it to be denegrated alongside the likes of Long Island Ice Teas and Strawberry Daiquiris.
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Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2023
These white people in blackface entertained the masses with stereotypes of Blackness, bastardizing the Black identity in the process.
—Tayo Bero, refinery29.com, 4 Apr. 2023
Society, this week, also bastardized two wholesome childhood fixtures, SunnyD and Girl Scout Cookies.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 10 Mar. 2023
What does a profession license mean if you’re allowed to bastardize the court system that way.
—Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2020
Videos that bastardize neighborhood names, or cluelessly treat storied establishments like new discoveries.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2022
To bastardize the bands Pablo Cruise or Yes, love will always find a way.
—Outside Online, 13 Feb. 2021
As a carcass decomposes, the bacteria in the body itself runs rampant, producing its signature stink and bastardizing the soil’s microbiome.
—Matt Simon, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020
The initial fear that the band was going to make a killing on wading-pool-deep music and basically bastardize country music was way off-base.
—Chuck Yarborough, cleveland, 8 Jan. 2020
Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2023
These white people in blackface entertained the masses with stereotypes of Blackness, bastardizing the Black identity in the process.
—Tayo Bero, refinery29.com, 4 Apr. 2023
Society, this week, also bastardized two wholesome childhood fixtures, SunnyD and Girl Scout Cookies.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 10 Mar. 2023
What does a profession license mean if you’re allowed to bastardize the court system that way.
—Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2020
Videos that bastardize neighborhood names, or cluelessly treat storied establishments like new discoveries.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2022
To bastardize the bands Pablo Cruise or Yes, love will always find a way.
—Outside Online, 13 Feb. 2021
As a carcass decomposes, the bacteria in the body itself runs rampant, producing its signature stink and bastardizing the soil’s microbiome.
—Matt Simon, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020
The initial fear that the band was going to make a killing on wading-pool-deep music and basically bastardize country music was way off-base.
—Chuck Yarborough, cleveland, 8 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bastardize
Verb
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Hezbollah's military infrastructure has been significantly degraded, and the Lebanese group agreed to a ceasefire with Israel last month under extremely unfavorable terms.Barak Ravid, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
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Meanwhile, Hamas has been da- -- badly degraded as well.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Legal experts are split on whether Yoon’s actions meet the criteria for insurrection, which is defined as a deliberate attempt to subvert the country’s constitution.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
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In addition to the Georgia defamation lawsuit, Giuliani faces criminal cases in Arizona and Georgia over efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Rachel: Yes, this is a film about how absolute power corrupts absolutely and how there is no hope of true justice under late capitalism.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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That includes when a campaign staffer accidentally downloads a malicious file or when a hacker corrupts a key data file.Sam Sabin, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Yet, this option could dilute control and raise concerns about costs, as well as possible conflicts of interest if private institutions influence operational policies.Alexandra Andhov, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
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What to watch: Any revisions are anticipated to dilute the proposal further, while finalizing the rules will be dragged out longer — risking a slow death of the rules put forward last summer.Courtenay Brown, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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To see the reigning English champions humiliated and humbled in such a manner is a very rare event.Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
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Teeny feels humiliated over the fact that Genevieve left her out of the Sol vote, which is more than understandable.Nick Caruso, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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By that time – perhaps only a decade from now, perhaps longer – the dollar may have been debased so badly that one bitcoin might be priced at $1 trillion or more.Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
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Bitcoin’s edge over gold lies in its unparalleled scarcity and technological attributes—a mix between a tech stock and gold that cannot be debased and can settle globally in minutes.Ansel Lindner, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Too much water can cause the fibers to weaken, become brittle, and break.Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
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In addition, hiring has slowed a bit in recent months, raising the risk that the economy could weaken in the coming months.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Double talk takes many forms, all of which damage or destroy trust: Spin: Every organization and, to an extent, every individual engages in public relations.Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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Healthcare providers insert a probe into the affected vein, emitting laser beams that produce heat to destroy the veins.Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bastardize
Cite this Entry
“Bastardize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bastardize. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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