Cheapening

/ˈtʃiːpənɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The act or process of reducing the price or value of something, or making something seem less respectable or impressive.

Etymology

Cheapen plus -ing, forming a gerund (verbal noun) that can function as both a noun and verb form. Shows the continuous or ongoing nature of the action.

Kelly Says

The word 'cheapening' gets used a lot in arguments about art, literature, and culture—critics worry about the 'cheapening' of classics when adapted for entertainment, revealing anxieties about how tradition survives in commercial society.

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