as in firings
the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank
anyone who objects will get a demotion
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Recent Examples of demotions
In Newark, 49 sergeants and 23 lieutenants who manage and supervise departments could face demotions if the results of their 2019 civil service exams are thrown out, according to the president of the city's Superior Officers' Association.
—
Christine Sloan, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
An attorney for two other administrators who sued over their demotions said Monday that their lawsuit is still pending.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025
Other penalties include fines up to $1000 or demotions.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Some of the agents had been reassigned earlier this year, in what were widely seen as demotions, The Washington Post reported.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
The airline has already announced furloughs and demotions of hundreds of pilots.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
But in late July, the company announced another round of pilot furloughs and demotions — the third since September.
—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Payne said several other employees were disciplined, including demotions and suspensions, after the May incident.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Aug. 2025
The risk indicators range from declining performance rating to demotions, from threats of violence to suicidal ideation to criminal behavior.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Christine Sloan, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
An attorney for two other administrators who sued over their demotions said Monday that their lawsuit is still pending.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025
Other penalties include fines up to $1000 or demotions.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Some of the agents had been reassigned earlier this year, in what were widely seen as demotions, The Washington Post reported.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
The airline has already announced furloughs and demotions of hundreds of pilots.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
But in late July, the company announced another round of pilot furloughs and demotions — the third since September.
—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Payne said several other employees were disciplined, including demotions and suspensions, after the May incident.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Aug. 2025
The risk indicators range from declining performance rating to demotions, from threats of violence to suicidal ideation to criminal behavior.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demotions
Noun
-
But amid mass firings and shifting priorities, that role has waned.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Six months later, the initial fervor that motivated widespread firings seems remote.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The changes were slight — reductions of just one-tenth of a second and one-half of a mile to a solar lap spanning two years and hundreds of millions of miles, according to the scientists.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Economic planners singled out steelmaking and oil refining at the opening of the national legislative session on Thursday with promises of orderly reductions in capacity.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Analysts believe the dismissals are meant both to reform and modernize the military and to ensure Communist Party control over the People's Liberation Army.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Another 84,000 cases ended in dismissals, but that outcome wasn’t reflected in their criminal history either.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demotions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demotions. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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