Meaning & use
bastardize
To lower the quality of something, often by changing or simplifying it in a way that damages its original form.
See it in a sentence
Critics said the remake had bastardized the original novel's subtle, quiet ending.
Fast-food chains are often accused of bastardizing traditional recipes to cut costs.
A note on using this word
Bastardize is a strong, disapproving word; it implies a version has been made cruder or less authentic than the original.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
preserverefine
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