1. to corrupt or debase something by making inferior changes to it
Usage: transitive

Examples

• The director bastardized the classic novel in his film adaptation.
• Critics argued that the remix bastardized the original song.
• The restaurant chain bastardized traditional recipes to cut costs.
• He refused to bastardize his artistic vision for commercial success.
• The translation bastardized the poet’s original meaning.
• Mass production tends to bastardize handcrafted techniques.