DEHUMANIZE Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

dehumanize

verb

(ˌ)dē-ˈ(h)yü-mə-ˌnīz

Definition of dehumanize

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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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 dehumanize Of the many cruel aspects of slavery, the shackles used to restrain and dehumanize more than12 million Africans across three centuries may be the most visceral tangible reminder. — Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 The answer is not to dehumanize us. — Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026 In each project, shifting scale becomes a way to recover empathy from systems that abstract and dehumanize. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026 Social media posts and comments showed an increasing use of dehumanizing language toward Muslims. — Anisah Bagasra, The Conversation, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dehumanize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dehumanize

Verb

One has to be willing to humiliate oneself in order to yodel, there is no spiritual bypass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
The party has found a kind of rhythm, where the president breaks fundraising records, spreads the wealth around, and, in return, gets to humiliate disloyal Republicans in seats that the party can’t lose.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
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

Definition of brutalize

Verb

Many of her victims were poisoned and buried around the boarding house, with Puente cashing their social security checks.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 7 July 2026
Chism’s defense asked that the court not release the affidavit, citing there was no legitimate purpose to release at this time and that doing so could poison any future jury pool.

— Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026

Definition of poison

Browse Nearby Words

dégringolades

dehumanize

dehumanized

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“Dehumanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dehumanize. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of dehumanize

verb

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