Abase vs. Abate — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 10, 2024
"Abase" means to humble or degrade oneself or others, whereas "abate" means to reduce or lessen in degree, intensity, or quantity.
Difference Between Abase and Abate
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Key Differences
"Abase" involves actions that bring someone down in status, reputation, or respect. This word is often used when discussing instances where someone humbles or demeans themselves or others, sometimes to a significant degree.
"Abate," on the other hand, focuses on reduction or diminution, whether it's a storm calming down or a legal nuisance being alleviated. The term is commonly applied to situations where something decreases in intensity or quantity.
"Abase" has a more personal or behavioral connotation, often implying a deliberate or forced lowering of status or pride. It is used metaphorically or literally, frequently within contexts like social status.
Meanwhile, "abate" can describe the fading of physical conditions like a headache, lessening nuisances, or mitigating risks. It suggests a reduction that may occur over time or through purposeful action.
"Abase" typically implies a power dynamic, as it involves diminishing oneself or others, while "abate" conveys more neutrality in reducing the presence or intensity of a situation, often for relief or improvement.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To lower in status, reputation, or dignity
To reduce in intensity or amount
Usage Context
Personal or behavioral
Situational, often legal or physical
Connotation
Negative, degrading
Neutral, sometimes positive
Example Context
Humbling oneself or someone else
Decreasing pain, risks, or nuisances
Verb Forms
Abased, abasing
Abated, abating
Compare with Definitions
Abase
To humble or degrade oneself or others.
He refused to abase himself in front of the crowd.
Abate
To reduce in degree or intensity.
The storm finally abated by morning.
Abase
To bring down in status or reputation.
The scandal abased the company’s image.
Abate
To diminish in amount or quantity.
We waited for the noise to abate before continuing.
Abase
To lower in rank.
She didn’t let others abase her aspirations.
Abate
To lessen in force or effect.
Pain relievers will help abate the headache.
Abase
To reduce in dignity.
Criticism abased his confidence.
Abate
To decrease or eliminate a legal nuisance.
The council aims to abate traffic congestion.
Abase
To belittle or diminish.
He often abased his employees.
Abate
To suspend or end temporarily.
The negotiations were abated due to unforeseen circumstances.
Abase
To lower in rank, prestige, or esteem.
Abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen
A program to abate air pollution.
Abase
(transitive) To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate.
Abate
To put an end to
The court ordered that the nuisance of the wrecked vehicle in the front yard be abated.
Abase
To lower physically; to depress; to cast or throw down; to stoop.
To abase the eye
Abate
To make void
The judge abated the lawsuit.
Abase
To lower in value, in particular by altering the content of alloys in coins; to debase.
Abate
To reduce for some period of time
The town abated the taxes on buildings of historical importance for three years.
Abase
To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye.
Saying so, he abased his lance.
Abate
To fall off in degree or intensity; subside
Waiting for the rain to abate.
Abase
To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office, condition in life, or estimation of worthiness; to depress; to humble; to degrade.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased.
Abate
To become void.
Abase
Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of;
He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss
Abate
To become reduced for a period of time.
Abate
(transitive)
Abate
To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
Abate
To reduce (something) in amount or size.
Abate
To lower (something) in price or value.
Abate
(archaic)
Abate
(law)
Abate
(obsolete)
Abate
(intransitive)
Abate
To decrease in force or intensity; to subside.
Abate
To decrease in amount or size.
Abate
To lower in price or value; (law) specifically, of a bequest in a will: to lower in value because the testator's estate is insufficient to satisfy all the bequests in full.
Bequests and legacies are liable to be abated entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.
Abate
Of an edge, point, etc.: to become blunt or dull.
Abate
(law)
Abate
(obsolete)
Abate
To enter upon and unlawfully seize (land) after the owner has died, thus preventing an heir from taking possession of it.
Abate
(uncountable) Abatement; reduction; (countable) an instance of this.
Abate
(uncountable) Deduction; subtraction; (countable) an instance of this.
Abate
An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy.
Abate
To beat down; to overthrow.
The King of Scots . . . sore abated the walls.
Abate
To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; to cut short; as, to abate a demand; to abate pride, zeal, hope.
His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Abate
To deduct; to omit; as, to abate something from a price.
Nine thousand parishes, abating the odd hundreds.
Abate
To blunt.
To abate the edge of envy.
Abate
To reduce in estimation; to deprive.
She hath abated me of half my train.
Abate
To bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away with; as, to abate a nuisance, to abate a writ.
Abate
To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain abates, a storm abates.
The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated.
Abate
To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; as, a writ abates.
Abate
Abatement.
Abate
Make less active or intense
Abate
Become less in amount or intensity;
The storm abated
The rain let up after a few hours
Common Curiosities
When would you use "abate" instead of "abase"?
Use "abate" when referring to reducing something in degree, intensity, or quantity.
Can "abate" be positive in meaning?
Yes, it often implies a reduction that leads to relief or improvement, like a headache subsiding.
What does "abase" mean?
It means to humiliate or lower someone's dignity, status, or pride.
Is "abate" commonly used in legal contexts?
Yes, it's often used to describe the reduction or elimination of nuisances or legal obligations.
Is "abase" similar to "humiliate"?
Yes, both imply degrading someone's dignity. "Abase" specifically means lowering status, often voluntarily or due to external pressure.
Does "abase" always imply intentional degradation?
Generally, yes. It usually refers to deliberate acts of humiliation or lowering.
Is "abate" often associated with natural phenomena?
Yes, it can describe the reduction of natural events like storms, floods, or fires.
Is "abate" used in financial contexts?
Yes, it's used when referring to reducing taxes, fines, or costs, as in "tax abatement."
Does "abate" imply complete elimination?
Not necessarily. It often means reducing the severity or quantity, though it can sometimes indicate complete cessation.
Does "abase" have synonyms in everyday language?
Words like "belittle," "demean," or "degrade" are often used synonymously.
Can "abase" also refer to things, not people?
While usually applied to people, it could metaphorically refer to reducing the importance or value of objects or ideas.
Can "abase" have a positive connotation?
Rarely, as it usually carries a negative tone. However, in some contexts, it could mean voluntarily humbling oneself for personal growth or repentance.
Is "abate" only used in a legal or formal context?
No, it's used broadly across different contexts, including casual conversations about diminishing intensity or amounts.
Can "abate" describe reducing emotions?
Yes, it can describe lessening emotional states, like anger or fear, as in "her anxiety began to abate."
What verb forms exist for "abate"?
"Abates," "abated," and "abating" are common forms used in various tenses.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
