demean 1 of 2

verb (1)

di-ˈmēn How to pronounce demean (audio)
Definition of demeannext
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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demean

2 of 2

verb (2)

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demean
Verb
Dean also wrote that she was also subjected to demeaning comments from the late radio host Don Imus during her tenure as a news editor and reporter for his program in the early 2000s. — Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 Because he was being completely bullied and demeaned and excused. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 None of this is meant to demean Byram, who’ll likely now face extra scrutiny from a fanbase that’s surely perplexed by this move, especially once the Blackhawks extend his contract, possibly to the $10 million range. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Some women who filed lawsuits against Ortega reported they had been confused about whether demeaning or uncomfortable actions the doctor engaged in during exams was within the bounds of necessary medical behavior. — Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for demean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demean
  1. degrade
  2. humiliate
  3. behave
  4. weaken
  5. discredit
  6. carry
  7. subvert
  8. acquit
Verb
  • Iran is unlikely to give up the leverage offered by having proxies spread across the region, even if some of them have been degraded by Israel or lost a foothold thanks to regime change, as is the case in Syria.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But now, Wright says Wendy’s has drifted from some of those qualities, telling investors that decisions made in the interest of cost and efficiency had degraded some of the food quality that set the chain apart.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of degrade
Verb
  • Much of the behavior on display is plainly harassment and bullying, often filmed without the subjects’ knowledge or consent and uploaded online to humiliate them further.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In their first national title game, the Wildcats humiliated Oklahoma in the national semifinal by 44, and in their second, demoralized Michigan in the title game by 17.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of humiliate
Verb
  • The incident was quickly followed by a slew of other companies reporting instances where AI agents behaved in unexpected ways.
    — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In another part of the study, the research team saw that fat cells behaved differently when drenched with blood collected from the HIIT folks, including changes involved in many genes that regulate fat and whole-body metabolism.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • But the White House cut its offices and weakened its ability to follow up with cases, as well as slashed funding to research on disparities that people of color face in getting diagnosed and attaining resources for disabilities.
    — Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Higher debt can also weaken economic growth by crowding out private investment.
    — Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The indictment became a rallying point to discredit not only the SPLC but the wider body of research on hate groups and political extremism.
    — Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of discredit
Verb
  • Highlight one strong detail, ask what outcome matters most, and let your craft carry the room.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Moon Jong-won rounds out the cast as Um Sang-pil, who runs a bed-and-breakfast and carries a past shrouded in mystery.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • While Africa holds some of the largest deposits, many are in countries that lack adequate infrastructure, compounding investors’ worries on top of fears that Chinese intervention could subvert ​project economics, Reuters reported.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The state alleges OpenAI's rapid success stems from deceit and exploitation, causing widespread harm to Floridians and subverting public order.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of subvert
Verb
  • The trailer also promises to touch on how then-contemporary thoughts of women as too innocent to murder helped Lizzie get acquitted, and teases the incorporation of other stories of female killers throughout history.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • He was booked on child molestation charges in 2003, but acquitted on criminal counts.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of acquit

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Cite this Entry

“Demean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demean. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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