Cheapening

Cheapening refers to the process of making something appear less valuable or respected, often by reducing its quality, originality, or perceived worth. This can apply to a wide range of things, including products, experiences, ideas, and even people's reputations. It typically involves a decline in standards or a shift towards the trivial or superficial. The impact of cheapening can be detrimental, leading to a loss of trust, reduced customer satisfaction, or a diminishing of the initial value. cheapening can be achieved by either lowering standards, reducing materials, or offering something that is of lesser quality than the expectation.

Cheapening meaning with examples

• The mass production of handcrafted goods has led to their cheapening, as quality control is reduced and original design features are often omitted. The hand-made appeal is sacrificed to meet lower prices and greater production goals which, while accessible, are often poorly made and easily broken or falling apart.
• The constant barrage of sensationalized news stories, often lacking in-depth reporting, contributes to the cheapening of journalism and the public's decreasing trust in media. The emphasis on clicks, views, and likes cheapen the value of news by presenting sensationalized news which is more valuable, but less worthy of reporting.
• The commodification of art, where artistic merit takes a backseat to commercial appeal, can result in the cheapening of the art form and artists who were once highly valued as creators. The new form often focuses on mass production and is targeted toward a broader audience, rather than those specifically interested in such.
• The casual use of profanity in everyday conversation can lead to the cheapening of language, as it loses its power and impact when used indiscriminately. While profanity once held great value, with careful and targeted usage, it is now seen as another form of speaking for some.