demote

Definition of demotenext
as in to reduce
to bring to a lower grade or rank the court-martial's decision was to demote the officer responsible for the failed mission

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 demote Once in a rare while, a person who was once heroically famous is demoted to infamous, and his statues disappear. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 Always an oddity as a planet, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet in 2006. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 Walker, 32, appeared as a senior deckhand on the Bravo show before he was demoted by fellow cast member Kelley Johnson after clashing with coworkers. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026 Instead, Kim was demoted to the minor leagues, as the Dodgers decided to keep up youngster Alex Freeland and veteran Santiago Espinal over him. Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for demote
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demote
Verb
  • Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.
    Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
  • But government hunting programs and other efforts to reduce their numbers as the human population grew led to the local extinction, or extirpation, of the animals from California more than a century ago.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But in the motion to dismiss, McCallum said the shooter did not touch the railing.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The deal dismissed charges of first-degree murder, tampering with a human body, burglary and theft from his case.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Demote.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demote. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on demote

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster