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Synonyms

depreciate

American  
[dih-pree-shee-eyt] / dɪˈpri ʃiˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

depreciated, depreciating
  1. to reduce the purchasing value of (money).

  2. to lessen the value or price of.

  3. to claim depreciation on (a property) for tax purposes.

  4. to represent as of little value or merit; belittle.

    Synonyms:
    minimize, decry, disparage

verb (used without object)

depreciated, depreciating
  1. to decline in value.

depreciate British  
/ dɪˈpriːʃɪətərɪ, -trɪ, dɪˈpriːʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

  1. to reduce or decline in value or price

  2. (tr) to lessen the value of by derision, criticism, etc; disparage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Commonly Confused

See deprecate

Other Word Forms

  • depreciatingly adverb
  • depreciator noun
  • depreciatory adjective
  • nondepreciating adjective
  • predepreciate verb
  • redepreciate verb
  • undepreciated adjective
  • underdepreciate verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of depreciate

First recorded in 1640–50; from Late Latin dēpretiātus “undervalued” (past participle of dēpretiāre; in Medieval Latin spelling dēpreciāre ), equivalent to Latin dē- “away from, out of” + preti(um) “price” + -ātus past participle suffix; de-, price, -ate 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I can see the thing depreciating in half in the last day,” said Schmier, before adding that he was joking.

From The Wall Street Journal

Remolona pointed to prior episodes where the peso depreciates sharply just as oil prices surged, fueling inflation and prompting the BSP to step in.

From The Wall Street Journal

The most valuable asset you have now is time — and that’s a depreciating asset for all of us.

From MarketWatch

That annual return will continue over the decades while slowly decreasing each year as the assets are depreciated, Ellis said.

From Los Angeles Times

Elevated capex levels also present the risk of saddling Amazon with depreciating chips and servers that will send expenses soaring in future years.

From MarketWatch