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
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.
—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
His ties to Epstein undercut his reputation (with his fans) as a chill truth teller or (with his detractors) as a villain with an uncanny ability to demean his enemies.
—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for demean
Verb
Inspectors documented staff using demeaning language, displaying extremist imagery, and engaging in conduct that violated the Bureau’s own standards.
—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.
—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
His ties to Epstein undercut his reputation (with his fans) as a chill truth teller or (with his detractors) as a villain with an uncanny ability to demean his enemies.
—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for demean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demean
Verb
-
This involves sealing all cracks, crevices and entry points with materials that won't degrade over time.
-
Batteries degrade, actuators wear out, sensors drift, and every safety case has to hold.
Verb
-
Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.
-
Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
Verb
-
Being a pro athlete doesn’t exempt you from behaving respectfully in society.
-
But Dumont wanted to look beyond insects to find out know how the spindle behaves in mammalian cells like ours.
Verb
-
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.
-
All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
-
Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.
-
This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.
Verb
-
The Full Moon later asks you to rest instead of carrying every loose end alone.
-
With others carrying more of the creative burden, Summerville has also been free to drift into and around the box and take up shooting positions.
Verb
-
These movies are about shocking and surprising the audience by setting up an expectation and then subverting that expectation.
-
Director Wes Craven executes a masterclass in tension, shock, and subverting expectations.
Verb
-
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.
-
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 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
