abwerten

abwerten is a German verb that means “to devalue,” “to disparage,” or “to belittle.” It is used both in literal contexts, such as the reduction of monetary value, and in figurative contexts, where it denotes a negative evaluation of a person, group, idea, or object. The verb is formed from the prefix “ab‑” (away, off) and the root “wert,” which is related to the noun “Wert” (value). Its etymology traces back to Middle High German “abwerten,” with cognates in other Germanic languages that share the concept of lowering worth.

In economics, abwerten describes the depreciation of assets, currencies, or securities, often as a result of market forces, inflation, or policy decisions. For example, a central bank may abwerten a national currency to improve export competitiveness. In everyday language, the term is frequently applied to speech acts that diminish the reputation or importance of someone or something, such as a critic abwerten a work of art or a colleague abwerten a colleague’s achievements.

The reflexive form “sich abwerten” can indicate self‑deprecation, where an individual presents themselves as less capable or valuable than they are. In legal and administrative contexts, abwerten can appear in discussions of tax assessments, where assets are abgewertet to reflect a lower taxable value.

Synonyms include herabsetzen, degradieren, und entwerten, while antonyms are aufwerten and erhöhen. The noun derived from the verb is “Abwertung,” used to denote the act or result of devaluation, both in financial and sociolinguistic domains.