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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
While instilling fear by propagating cruelty may be a de facto policy to deter others from immigrating to the U.S., demeaning people in this way demeans us all.
—Nicole Widdersheim, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Y’all the only era that feel like demeaning the dead and saying that sh*t is cool, my ni**a.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for demean
Verb
Stern also has talked about the value of therapy, come to the middle-aged realization his younger self demeaned women and appeared on Anderson Cooper, all of which seem like signs of just basic human growth or existence.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
While instilling fear by propagating cruelty may be a de facto policy to deter others from immigrating to the U.S., demeaning people in this way demeans us all.
—Nicole Widdersheim, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Y’all the only era that feel like demeaning the dead and saying that sh*t is cool, my ni**a.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for demean
Cite this Entry
“Demean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demean. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share