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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demean
Aniko Bodroghkozy,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
The imagery was largely criticized for echoing long-standing racist tropes that have historically been used to demean Black Americans.
—
Ana Ceballos
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
With that framing, his followers could demean Black protesters and vilify federal agents and Jews, notably those who linked arms with their Black neighbors to demand equal rights — as the rabbi at Beth Israel had increasingly done before Bowers’ henchmen bombed his synagogue and then his home.
—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2026
The shrine is Canton is demeaned and the Class of ‘26 stained.
—
Greg Cote
february 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demean
Verb
Walsh and other right-wing commentators, along with comedian Ben Bankas, underscored Good’s sexuality to further demean her.
—
Aniko Bodroghkozy,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
The imagery was largely criticized for echoing long-standing racist tropes that have historically been used to demean Black Americans.
—
Ana Ceballos
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
With that framing, his followers could demean Black protesters and vilify federal agents and Jews, notably those who linked arms with their Black neighbors to demand equal rights — as the rabbi at Beth Israel had increasingly done before Bowers’ henchmen bombed his synagogue and then his home.
—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2026
The shrine is Canton is demeaned and the Class of ‘26 stained.
—
Greg Cote
february 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demean
Verb
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This involves sealing all cracks, crevices and entry points with materials that won't degrade over time.
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Batteries degrade, actuators wear out, sensors drift, and every safety case has to hold.
Verb
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Only the United States was humiliated; both countries have experienced a catastrophic loss.
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However, they were then humiliated 2-1, after extra time, by second division side Torreense in the final.
Verb
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Real Application Testing, also discounted, lets organizations assess how an application will behave under a patch or upgrade before deploying it in production, reducing the risk that a routine update or patch will break something critical.
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Treasury yields eased in the bond market after a report said inflation is behaving pretty much as economists expected.
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.
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This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.
Verb
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Once, there was a showdown with another tour bus — one presumably not carrying theatergoers.
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The spacious purse comes with two strap options, so it can also be carried as a crossbody.
Verb
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These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation.
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Director Wes Craven executes a masterclass in tension, shock, and subverting expectations.
Verb
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling for the impeachment of the Miami-Dade judge who acquitted a woman by reason of insanity in the 2021 death of her 15-month-old daughter, arguing the ruling threatens public safety.
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Weinstein was convicted of some charges and acquitted of others at trials in New York and California.
Cite this Entry
“Demean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demean. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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