devalue

verb

de·​val·​ue (ˌ)dē-ˈval-(ˌ)yü 

devalued; devaluing; devalues

transitive verb

1

: to institute the devaluation of (money)

2

: to lessen the value of

intransitive verb

: to institute devaluation

Synonyms

• attenuate
• break
• cheapen
• depreciate
• depress
• devaluate
• downgrade
• lower
• mark down
• reduce
• sink
• write down
• write off

Examples of devalue in a Sentence

The government has decided to devalue its currency.

Economic woes forced the government to devalue.

He argues that placing too many requirements on schools devalues the education they provide.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lebanon has faced economic collapse, with its currency devalued by over 99%, and nearly 80% of the population now living below the poverty line. —Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 10 Jan. 2025

Such behavior disrupts listening and devalues the speaker, creating a culture of superficial engagement. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025

Plus, the case for Saquon Barkley After years of devaluing running backs, will teams value them again? —Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025

This intellectual property integrity lapse sets a precedent that weakens protections for creators across industries, undermines their financial stability, and eventually infringes on the intellectual rights of content creators, devaluing the very essence of intellectual property itself. —Hamilton Mann, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Legal Definition

devalue

transitive verb

de·​val·​ue (ˌ)dē-ˈval-(ˌ)yü 

devalued; devaluing

1

: to institute the devaluation of (money)

2

: to lessen the value of

devaluing assets