as in to humiliate
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being
being deprived of clothes dehumanized the prisoners
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Recent Examples of dehumanize
The scrutiny of fame has always been dehumanizing, though the ubiquity of the modern-day comment section has surely accelerated and exaggerated its cruelty.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The Coalition for the Homeless says the city's unhoused are often dehumanized and criminalized.
—Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
In a world that often feels fragmented and dehumanized, reclaiming this universality is an ethical act.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Those included flattering depictions of world leaders as powerful men, or dehumanizing depictions of opposition leaders.
—Stuart A. Thompson, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dehumanize
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The Coalition for the Homeless says the city's unhoused are often dehumanized and criminalized.
—Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
In a world that often feels fragmented and dehumanized, reclaiming this universality is an ethical act.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Those included flattering depictions of world leaders as powerful men, or dehumanizing depictions of opposition leaders.
—Stuart A. Thompson, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dehumanize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dehumanize
Verb
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As long as Iran doesn’t humiliate Trump by restarting its nuclear program, the president can call it a win.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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In the ongoing fight for women’s equal rights, Pawol had proved a female baseball umpire can be second-guessed, proved wrong and humiliated by technology and mocked by howling fans on social media just like a man can.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Family Photo The family had fled the Congo after Carine, an activist, was brutalized for speaking out against the ruling regime.—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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The Original brutalized El Grande Americano II back inside the ring.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Some believe that’s by design, that the show has been poisoned on purpose.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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By Chris Boyette, CNN A California judge dismissed charges against a dermatologist accused of poisoning her husband with liquid drain cleaner, ruling that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had withheld evidence from the grand jury that indicted her.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dehumanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dehumanize. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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