1
as in degrades
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealistic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliates
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in behaves
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 demeans
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demeans
Verb
-
Unlike conventional electronics that rely on plastics and heavy metals, the MEG degrades safely after use.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 May 2026
-
It gets tested every year because the device degrades and conditions change.—
Barbara Wittmann,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
And the President doesn’t seem to mind if Vance humiliates himself running errands.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That cost behaves less like a wager on the future and more like a line on the monthly bill.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Breaking normal current flow The transistor also behaves differently from conventional semiconductor devices.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Subtract what weakens the system.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Teams evolve at different speeds, innovation concentrates among a small subset of employees, and trust across the organization weakens.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Dec. 2025
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Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At least a couple million of those feet are directly attributable to Clover, who always carries some twine with her so visitors can add to the ball.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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The new money is chasing a job that did not exist three years ago, and only part of what carries the AI label is the genuinely new part.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
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The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the proud lineage of pint-sized blonde women who’ve held their own against Madonna, Carpenter acquits herself quite well.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demeans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demeans. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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