to demean
- verb
- /dɪˈmin/
- Her boss would demean her in front of her peers publicly.
- demean a person
- demean women
- demean characters
And so of course he appoints other people that demean women.
- And so of course he appoints other people that demean women.
- Don't yell, don't menace, don't be passive aggressive, don't demean, don't talk down to people, don't yell at people.
- He had belittled her, demeaned her, psychologically, tortured her for decades.
- Now, there are clearly very serious mental health issues in this country and I don't want to demean or devalue those in any way.
- Luddites were against how technology and how corporate power was using technology to demean labor.
- I could be wrong about a lot of things, but I don't think that I should demean my experience, demean my value based on something I'm not even sure of right now.
- And don't let any doctor demean your experiences or belittle what you're going through and make you feel like you're being dramatic or you're in the wrong.
Examples
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What you are doing is demeaning to your own people.
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Even as he did so, he felt demeaned and angry at himself.
Fiction book (2001) -
And then, when and if she became president, they would most likely try to demean her also.
Fiction book (1990) -
And so of course he appoints other people that demean women.
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He still continues to demean black Americans.
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I can understand your anger, but you shouldn't demean yourself.
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I shall not demean myself by addressing this so-called court.
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Discussions are held with a positive tone of voice, and demeaning language is not permitted.
Academic text (2011) -
The whole attitude is demeaning to jazz because jazz shouldn't be looked at like a boxing match.
Academic text (2007) -
Her boss would demean her in front of her peers publicly.
Synonyms
To say or do something rude to someone
Make someone feel very ashamed and foolish, often in front of others
To say cruel things to make people think less of someone
To show a lack of respect for someone
Make a person or thing seem less important
To make someone lose respect or honor by doing something shameful
To make someone feel less proud or important
To treat someone so they feel ashamed or less respected
To make someone feel unimportant by saying bad things about them
To make someone or something lose respect by bad action
To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important
To make someone or something seem not important
To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect
To treat a person as if they are not human and take away their dignity
Treat someone as shameful and not worthy of respect
To make someone feel very embarrassed or ashamed
To make something seem less important or respected
To make someone feel ashamed or lose respect for themselves
Say or do things that make someone seem less respected
Make a person or thing seem less important and less valuable
To make someone feel less important or lower in social position
To bring shame on a person or group
Antonyms
How Demeaning
- Offensive
- Offensive
- Offensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Demean can be remembered by thinking of its parts: de- meaning 'down' and mean meaning 'low'. So, to demean someone is to 'lower' them in dignity or respect.