1. the act or process of making something less expensive or of lower quality
2. the act of diminishing the value, worth, or dignity of something

Examples

• The cheapening of airline tickets made travel more accessible to everyone.
• Mass production led to the cheapening of handmade crafts.
• The cheapening of political discourse concerned many voters.
• Critics argued that the remake resulted in a cheapening of the original film.
• The cheapening of education through budget cuts worried parents.
• Online retailers contributed to the cheapening of book prices.
• The cheapening of labor in developing countries raised ethical questions.