Synonyms of demeaning

demeaning 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈmē-niŋ 

as in insulting

intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value

demanded an apology for his demeaning comments

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insulting
• slighting
• degrading
• derogatory
• malicious
• disparaging
• abusive
• pejorative
• uncomplimentary
• contemptuous
• deprecatory
• disdainful
• critical
• scornful
• depreciatory
• belittling
• derogative
• hateful
• venomous
• denigratory
• derisory
• depreciative
• libelous
• cruel
• nasty
• detractive
• decrying
• denigrative
• defamatory
• slanderous
• unkind
• spiteful
• opprobrious
• scurrilous
• calumnious
• malignant
• malign
• malevolent
• virulent
• vilifying
• maligning
• mean
• catty
• slandering
• jealous
• despiteful
• caustic
• bitter
• denunciatory
• resentful
• envious
• acrimonious
• aspersing
• scathing
• rancorous
• acrid
• jaundiced
• denunciative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laudatory
• positive
• complimentary
• commendatory
• friendly
• respectful
• approving
• admiring
• adulatory
• appreciative
• kind
• laudative
• sympathetic
• applauding
• warm
• kindly
• kindhearted
• warmhearted
• unmalicious

demeaning

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of demean

1

as in degrading

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

• degrading
• humiliating
• corrupting
• debasing
• deteriorating
• subverting
• weakening
• damaging
• demoralizing
• poisoning
• debauching
• diluting
• perverting
• destroying
• depraving
• disgracing
• prostituting
• cheapening
• shaming
• ruining
• polluting
• lessening
• bastardizing
• marring
• profaning
• cankering
• abasing
• vitiating
• humbling
• warping
• contaminating
• tainting
• hurting
• harming
• impairing
• thinning
• dishonoring
• wrecking
• dirtying
• defiling
• spoiling
• tarnishing
• watering down
• descending
• staining
• befouling
• defacing
• begriming
• depreciating
• downgrading
• taking down
• flawing
• blemishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uplifting
• elevating
• improving
• honoring
• exalting
• ennobling
• amending
• enhancing
• enriching
• dignifying
• ameliorating
• perfecting
• cleaning
• clarifying
• bettering
• respecting
• restoring
• refining
• cleansing
• purifying
• meliorating

2

as in humiliating

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

• humiliating
• discrediting
• degrading
• embarrassing
• insulting
• shaming
• humbling
• debasing
• confusing
• disgracing
• dishonoring
• cheapening
• rattling
• abasing
• criticizing
• chastening
• lowering
• taking down
• belittling
• disparaging
• fouling
• ridiculing
• disconcerting
• diminishing
• mortifying
• minimizing
• smirching
• sinking
• detracting
• discomfiting
• discounting
• decrying
• confounding
• maligning
• condemning
• slandering
• depreciating
• defaming
• flustering
• libeling
• castigating
• affronting
• defiling
• discountenancing
• denouncing
• writing off
• nonplussing
• fazing
• abashing
• damning
• censuring
• bad-mouthing
• crying down
• putting down
• execrating
• reprobating
• reprehending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elevating
• exalting
• praising
• citing
• aggrandizing
• honoring
• complimenting
• deifying
• commending
• recognizing
• celebrating
• acknowledging
• cheering
• congratulating
• applauding
• boasting
• extolling
• saluting
• hailing
• lauding
• canonizing
• decorating
• eulogizing
• touting
• acclaiming
• highlighting
• dignifying
• promoting
• glorifying
• ennobling
• uplifting
• spotlighting
• feting
• lifting
• advancing
• magnifying
• enshrining
• playing up
• raising
• upgrading
• enthroning
• boosting
• idealizing
• romanticizing
• enskying

demeaning

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of demean

as in behaving

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

• behaving
• carrying
• acquitting
• restraining
• conducting
• handling
• composing
• containing
• comporting
• controlling
• deporting
• quitting
• constraining
• inhibiting
• bearing
• collecting
• curbing
• checking
• repressing
• playing
• quieting
• acting
• moderating
• modulating
• tempering
• impersonating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misbehaving
• carrying on
• cutting up
• acting up
• misconducting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of demeaning

Adjective

The league is clearly consumed by athletes with bigoted, demeaning views of white women. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

No ask is too demeaning, no self-sabotaging client too difficult. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 29 July 2026

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