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

Jonathan was even reprimanded more than once for his name-calling and demeaning attitude towards Ana. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026

First of all, that’s a little bit demeaning to truck drivers. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026

Yet another quilt depicts a blackface minstrel as a reminder of whites who masqueraded as Blacks on Vaudeville and perpetuated demeaning stereotypes. —Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

They were berated with demeaning and misogynistic names. —Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 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