demeaning

adjective

de·​mean·​ing di-ˈmē-niŋ 

: damaging or lowering the character, status, or reputation of someone or something

The work was dirty and demeaning, though not quite as somber as it sounds.

—Gillian Beer

He changed one song title … to slip around radio's reluctance to play songs with demeaning words in them …

—Neil Strauss

[Sylvia Plath] is most helpfully linked, not to the demeaning disputes of her milieu, but to such powerful predecessors as Theodore Roethke, T. S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, and above all Emily Dickinson.

—Joyce Carol Oates

demeaningly adverb

When Lorna … takes control of the inmates' pharmacy, she decides that no one needs medication. It's her belief that those who are demeaningly labeled "crazy" are given medication in order to stifle their uniqueness …

—Sophie-Marie Prime

Synonyms of demeaning

• insulting
• slighting
• degrading
• derogatory
• malicious
• disparaging
• abusive
• pejorative
• uncomplimentary

Examples of demeaning in a Sentence

demanded an apology for his demeaning comments

Recent Examples on the Web

Walter White, executive secretary of the NAACP, lobbied the film studios in 1942 to stop portraying Blacks in demeaning, stereotypical roles, specifically citing Fetchit. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

That framing, whether intentional or not, is disrespectful, dismissive and demeaning. —Terri Freeman, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026

Political bullies also enjoy demeaning names and character assassination. —Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026

Constantly at each other’s throats, the pair matches wits with demeaning quips and physical comedy greatness. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of demean entry 1

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for demeaning

• careening
• convening
• housecleaning
• machining
• unmeaning
• cleaning
• gleaning
• greening
• keening
• leaning
• meaning
• peening