# abastardize

CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abastardize
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to treat someone or something very badly, often by being cruel or unfair. It is an old-fashioned way to say someone is being treated like a low-class person.

For teachers: to treat someone or something in a cruel, unfair, or contemptuous manner.

## Examples

- The king was accused of abastardizing his subjects.
- The historical novel describes how the noble family sought to abastardize the local peasants to maintain their power.
- Scholars argue that the author's harsh treatment of the protagonist serves to abastardize the character, stripping him of any sympathy the reader might otherwise feel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.