1
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealistic
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2
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
his statement was not meant to demean the group's hard work
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as in to behave
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way
I shall endeavor to demean myself with utmost respect when our pastor comes to visit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demean
Sara Merican, Deadline, 16 May 2025
What once was used to demean us became a subversive tool for resistance throughout the diaspora.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 1 May 2025
Moreover, 15 percent of respondents said their manager was aggressive, while 12 percent replied that their boss was demeaning.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
The woman, along with her legal team, painted a picture of a violent man whose abusive cycles included demeaning text messages, physical harm and threats.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demean
Verb
Black Sun is set in the time of an uninhabitable drought and follows Kai, who struggles with his retracting genital and his wife, Ling, who demeans him with this impotency.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 16 May 2025
What once was used to demean us became a subversive tool for resistance throughout the diaspora.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 1 May 2025
Moreover, 15 percent of respondents said their manager was aggressive, while 12 percent replied that their boss was demeaning.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
The woman, along with her legal team, painted a picture of a violent man whose abusive cycles included demeaning text messages, physical harm and threats.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demean
Cite this Entry
“Demean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demean. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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