1
as in degrades
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliates
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in behaves
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demeans
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demeans
Verb
-
Unlike conventional electronics that rely on plastics and heavy metals, the MEG degrades safely after use.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 May 2026
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It gets tested every year because the device degrades and conditions change.—
Barbara Wittmann,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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And the President doesn’t seem to mind if Vance humiliates himself running errands.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That structural difference is part of why silicone behaves differently under heat and wear compared to conventional plastic kitchenware.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
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Unlike existing models, these AI systems are designed not just to recognize patterns in text or images, but also to simulate how the physical world behaves.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Organizations often assume that leaders working across contexts bring less focus and that divided attention weakens effectiveness.—
Henrik Totterman,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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Gravity weakens with the square of the distance between the two, so a star that was on the far side of the Milky Way from the edge-on collision point would feel a much less powerful gravitational attraction than a star on the near side would.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Dec. 2025
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Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Memorial Day also carries a message to not have more wars.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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Everything above ground in Historic Eatonville carries a deeper story underneath it spiritually, culturally, historically and archaeologically.—
John W. Beacham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Verb
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One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
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The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the proud lineage of pint-sized blonde women who’ve held their own against Madonna, Carpenter acquits herself quite well.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demeans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demeans. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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