Abase vs Abate: Unraveling Commonly Confused Terms

Are you confused about when to use “abase” or “abate” in your writing? You’re not alone. These two words may sound similar, but they have different meanings and uses.

We should clarify which of the two words is the proper one to use. It depends on the context of your sentence. “Abase” is a verb that means to lower in rank, position, or esteem. “Abate” is also a verb, but it means to reduce or lessen in intensity, amount, or degree.

So, if you want to describe a situation where someone has been humbled or degraded, “abase” is the right word to use. On the other hand, if you want to talk about a situation where something has decreased in intensity or amount, “abate” is the correct choice.

Now that we’ve established the difference between the two words, let’s dive deeper into their definitions and usage.

Define Abase

The term “abase” refers to the act of lowering oneself in rank, dignity, or esteem. It can also mean to humiliate or degrade someone, or to lower the value or quality of something. Abase is often used in a figurative sense, such as when someone’s behavior or actions cause them to lose respect or status.

For example, a politician may abase themselves by engaging in unethical behavior, causing them to lose the trust and respect of their constituents. A company may abase its reputation by engaging in shady business practices, resulting in a loss of customers and revenue.

Define Abate

The term “abate” refers to the act of reducing or lessening something. It can also mean to subside or decrease in intensity or severity. Abate is often used in a literal sense, such as when the intensity of a storm abates, or in a legal sense, such as when a court order is abated.

For example, a headache may abate after taking medication, or a fever may abate after resting. In the legal context, a court order may be abated if it is found to be invalid or if the circumstances that led to the order have changed.

Comparison of abase and abate

Term	Meaning	Usage
Abase	To lower oneself in rank, dignity, or esteem; to humiliate or degrade someone; to lower the value or quality of something	Figurative
Abate	To reduce or lessen something; to subside or decrease in intensity or severity	Literal or legal

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

When it comes to writing, using the right words in the right way is crucial. Two words that are often confused are “abase” and “abate”. Both words have different meanings and should be used appropriately in a sentence. In this section, we will discuss how to use each word correctly.

How To Use “Abase” In A Sentence

“Abase” is a verb that means to humiliate or belittle someone or oneself. Here are some examples of how to use “abase” in a sentence:

• She felt abased when her boss criticized her work in front of everyone.
• The dictator abased his political opponents by publicly shaming them.
• He abased himself by apologizing for something he didn’t do.

As you can see, “abase” is often used in situations where someone is being degraded or demeaned.

How To Use “Abate” In A Sentence

“Abate” is a verb that means to lessen or reduce in intensity or amount. Here are some examples of how to use “abate” in a sentence:

• The storm is starting to abate, and the winds are dying down.
• The pain in my knee has abated since I started taking medication.
• The company’s profits have abated in recent years due to increased competition.

As you can see, “abate” is often used in situations where something is decreasing or becoming less intense.

More Examples Of Abase & Abate Used In Sentences

In order to gain a better understanding of how to use the words “abase” and “abate” correctly, it is helpful to review additional examples of each word used in a sentence.

Examples Of Using Abase In A Sentence

• He felt that his boss was trying to abase him in front of his colleagues.
• The dictator’s actions were intended to abase the citizens and maintain his power.
• The bully’s constant insults were meant to abase his victim and make him feel inferior.
• The teacher did not want to abase the student, but felt that constructive criticism was necessary.
• The politician’s lies were an attempt to abase his opponent and win the election.
• She refused to abase herself by apologizing for something she did not do.
• He felt that the company’s decision to demote him was an attempt to abase him.
• The coach’s harsh criticism was meant to abase the players and motivate them to improve.
• The servant was forced to abase himself before the king as a sign of submission.
• The criminal’s punishment was meant to abase him and deter others from committing similar crimes.

Examples Of Using Abate In A Sentence

• The storm began to abate as the winds died down.
• His anger slowly began to abate as he realized the situation was not as bad as he thought.
• The pain in her knee began to abate after she took some medication.
• The noise from the construction site finally abated after several hours.
• The fear of flying did not abate until the plane was safely on the ground.
• The intensity of the workout gradually abated as the participants became fatigued.
• The company’s profits began to abate as the competition increased.
• The tension between the two countries began to abate after diplomatic talks.
• The fever abated after several days of rest and medication.
• The excitement of the crowd abated as the concert came to an end.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to using the words abase and abate, people often make the mistake of using them interchangeably. However, these two words have distinct meanings and should not be used in place of each other. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using abase and abate:

Using Abase When You Mean Abate

One common mistake is using abase when you actually mean abate. Abase means to lower in rank or position, while abate means to reduce or lessen. For example, saying “the storm abased in intensity” would be incorrect, as the correct word to use would be abated.

Using Abate When You Mean Abase

Conversely, using abate when you actually mean abase is another common mistake. Abase means to humiliate or degrade, while abate means to reduce or lessen. For example, saying “the teacher abated the student in front of the class” would be incorrect, as the correct word to use would be abased.

Not Understanding The Context

Another mistake people make is not understanding the context in which these words should be used. For instance, abase is typically used in situations where someone’s dignity or reputation is being lowered, while abate is used in situations where something is being reduced or lessened.

Tips For Avoiding These Mistakes

To avoid these common mistakes, it’s important to understand the meanings of both abase and abate and use them in the appropriate context. Here are some tips:

• Look up the definitions of both words and understand their differences
• Read examples of how each word is used in context
• Practice using the words in sentences to ensure you are using them correctly
• When in doubt, use a thesaurus to find alternative words that may be more appropriate

Context Matters

When it comes to choosing between the words “abase” and “abate,” context is key. Both words have different meanings and connotations, and the choice between them can greatly affect the tone and message of your writing.

Abase

The word “abase” is typically used to describe a situation in which someone is being humiliated or degraded. It can also refer to a person lowering themselves in rank or status.

• Example 1: “The boss’s constant belittling of his employees only served to abase them.”
• Example 2: “The prince was forced to abase himself before the king in order to regain favor.”

As these examples show, “abase” is often used in situations where someone is being demeaned or degraded. It can also be used to describe a voluntary lowering of status or rank.

Abate

The word “abate,” on the other hand, is typically used to describe a situation in which something is decreasing or becoming less intense. It can also refer to a person or group becoming less hostile or aggressive.

• Example 1: “As the storm began to abate, the winds died down and the rain slowed.”
• Example 2: “After a few tense moments, the group’s anger began to abate and they were able to have a productive discussion.”

As these examples show, “abate” is often used in situations where something is decreasing in intensity or hostility. It can also be used to describe a calming or lessening of emotions.

Contextual Examples

Here are a few examples of different contexts in which the choice between “abase” and “abate” might change:

Context	Word Choice	Example
Personal Relationships	Abase	“I felt completely abased by my partner’s constant criticism.”
Weather	Abate	“As the storm began to abate, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.”
Politics	Abase	“The politician’s attack ads only served to abase his opponent and turn off potential voters.”
Emotional States	Abate	“After taking a few deep breaths, I felt my anger begin to abate.”

As these examples show, the choice between “abase” and “abate” can depend greatly on the context in which they are used. It’s important to consider the tone and message you want to convey before choosing which word to use.

Exceptions To The Rules

While there are general rules for using abase and abate, there are some exceptions where these rules might not apply. Here are some explanations and examples for each case:

1. Abase Used To Describe Physical Lowering

As mentioned earlier, abase is usually used to describe a lowering of someone’s status or reputation. However, it can also be used to describe a physical lowering of something. For example:

• The bridge was abased during the storm.
• The wall was abased to make room for the new building.

In these cases, abase is being used to describe a physical lowering of the bridge and wall, respectively.

2. Abate Used In Legal Contexts

While abate is generally used to describe a reduction or lessening of something, it can also have a specific meaning in legal contexts. In law, abate can refer to the termination of a legal action before it is completed. For example:

• The lawsuit was abated due to the death of the defendant.
• The court ordered the case to be abated until further notice.

In these cases, abate is being used to describe the termination of a legal action.

3. Abate Used In Music

Abate also has a specific meaning in music. In music notation, abate is used to indicate a decrease in volume. For example:

• The music gradually abated until it was barely audible.
• The conductor signaled for the orchestra to abate their playing.

In these cases, abate is being used to indicate a decrease in volume in the music being played.

Practice Exercises

One of the best ways to improve your understanding and use of abase and abate is through practice exercises. Here are a few exercises to help you get started:

Exercise 1:

Choose the correct word (abase or abate) to complete each sentence:

Sentence	Correct Word
John felt like he had been _________ by his boss after being publicly criticized.	abased
The storm began to _________ as the winds died down.	abate
The teacher did not want to _________ her authority in the classroom.	abase
The pain in her knee started to _________ after she took the medication.	abate
The team’s confidence was _________ after losing their first game of the season.	abased

Answer Key:

Sentence	Correct Word
John felt like he had been _________ by his boss after being publicly criticized.	abased
The storm began to _________ as the winds died down.	abate
The teacher did not want to _________ her authority in the classroom.	abase
The pain in her knee started to _________ after she took the medication.	abate
The team’s confidence was _________ after losing their first game of the season.	abased

Exercise 2:

Write a sentence using each of the following words:

• abase
• abasement
• abated
• abatement

Example:

After being caught cheating on the test, he felt a deep sense of abasement.

Answer Key:

• After the scandal, the politician was forced to abase himself in front of the public.
• Her abasement was evident in her body language and tone of voice.
• The noise from the construction site finally abated after several weeks of constant drilling.
• The company offered an abatement in rent for tenants affected by the ongoing renovations.

Practice exercises like these can help you to better understand the nuances of abase and abate and how to use them effectively in your writing.

Conclusion

After exploring the differences between abase and abate, it is clear that these two words have distinct meanings and cannot be used interchangeably. Abase refers to the act of humiliating or belittling someone or oneself, while abate means to reduce or lessen something, such as an emotion or a problem.

It is important to use the correct word in the appropriate context to avoid confusion and miscommunication. This is especially crucial in written communication, where the reader cannot rely on nonverbal cues to interpret the meaning of the message.

As with any aspect of language use, it is essential to continue learning and expanding our knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. This not only enhances our ability to communicate effectively but also demonstrates our respect for the language and those with whom we communicate.