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dehumanization

dehumanization

4 7.8
Treating people like objects or animals and hurting their dignity
  • noun
  • /diːˌhjuː.mə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
  • Offensive
translation icon : deshumanización
  • You're seeing the degradation and the dehumanization of Black folks in this country that the mass shootings and so forth.
  • dehumanization of their own

Quite quickly the dehumanisation process kicks in.

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Examples

  • Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the nursing home is the dehumanization that it brings about.

    Academic text (1997)
  • When you think about dehumanization, can the average American name a single victim of the Iraq War?

  • In addition, participants in this study who worked directly with the public experienced dehumanization at the hands of customers.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The second harm is the dehumanization of the prisoners themselves.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Three big problems of nursing homes will not go away: excessive cost, poor quality of care, and dehumanization.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In the Face of Evil dissects themes of identity and dehumanization, both large aspects of the Holocaust.

    Blog text (13)
  • It is one of the most prominent forms of discrimination against Dalits, and it is central to the violation of their human rights, to their dehumanization.

  • The film highlighted the dehumanization of individuals in harsh prison conditions.

  • Studies show that dehumanization can occur in workplaces where employees are treated as mere numbers.

  • The article discusses the dehumanization of refugees during conflicts and the impact on their dignity.

Synonyms

degradation
vsdehumanization
33 6.8

The process of making land, water, or buildings worse over time

stresses loss of dignity and human worth rather than general lowering of status
debasement
vsdehumanization
3 7.5

Making a person or thing less respected and less valued

focuses on removing moral or human qualities, not just lowering respect
depersonalization
vsdehumanization
1 9.9

A person is treated like an object and loses their personal qualities

emphasizes loss of whole human traits, not only loss of individual identity
depreciation
vsdehumanization
  • Offensive
1 6.3

Words that make a person or their work seem unimportant

is a stronger act that removes dignity and personal worth beyond words
animalization
vsdehumanization
  • Offensive
9.9

Making someone seem cruel and less human

focuses more on removing dignity and individuality than only cruelty

Antonyms

2 6.3

To make something seem more like a real person with feelings

How Dehumanizing

dehumanization
  • Offensive
4 7.8
humiliation
  • Offensive
148 4.2
insult
  • Offensive
313 1.3
disrespect
133 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

dehumanization = dehumanize (transparent) = de + human + ize + ation

This is a standard noun formation from the verb 'dehumanize' meaning the process or result of that action.

Etymology

Dehumanization is made of de- 'remove' and human 'human', so it means taking away human qualities. So, dehumanization is the act or process of treating people as if they are not fully human, removing their dignity or individuality.