demeaning 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈmē-niŋ How to pronounce demeaning (audio)
Definition of demeaningnext
as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value demanded an apology for his demeaning comments

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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

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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

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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

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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 demeaning
Adjective
Despite the demeaning work, Laura, a local woman, has risen to middle management through unyielding determination. — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026 Female employees were allegedly excluded from all-male meetings and subjected to demeaning behavior in front of colleagues and unwelcome comments about their appearance. — Chloe Melas, NBC news, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy. — Alma Hernandez, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026 Especially early on in the campaign, when I was being attacked as being angry, a shrew, demeaning my husband — all these labels were coming in on me that were essentially trying to rob me of that femininity. — Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for demeaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demeaning
  1. insulting
  2. degrading
  3. humiliating
  4. behaving
  5. derogatory
  6. corrupting
  7. discrediting
  8. carrying
Adjective
  • Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • What Florence has been doing is consistent and insulting.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Definition of insulting
Verb
  • But explosions at nuclear, missile and drone facilities and assassinations of scientists outside the direct conflicts of June 2025 and from February 2026 clearly map to the goal of degrading Iranian military capabilities in between wars.
    — Amy McAuliffe, The Conversation, 26 June 2026
  • Grade 5 titanium is notoriously difficult to work with, its hardness rapidly degrading cutting tools and leaving little margin for error.
    — Richard Mille Contributor, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of degrading
Verb
  • 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.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
  • The autocrat delights in humiliating so many people, not least tech billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who once opposed him.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2026
Definition of humiliating
Verb
  • Once markets stop pricing free cash flow and start pricing a president’s next move, the bubble stops behaving like a discrete event with a beginning and an end, and starts behaving like a permanent condition.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • Without clear visibility into how AI systems are behaving, organizations risk creating environments where costs get out of control and accountability disappears.
    — Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of behaving
Adjective
  • The law, passed in 2024, prohibits K-12 public schools from using any derogatory Native American term for athletic team mascots, names or nicknames.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • For one thing, Aniya never said anything derogatory about KC, which even the guys must grumpily acknowledge to be true.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Definition of derogatory
Verb
  • Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
  • An early discussion about social contracts comes down to us in Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Socrates, condemned to death for allegedly corrupting the youth, refused an offer to escape from prison.
    — George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of corrupting
Verb
  • Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Defense attorney Tom Mesereau was an expert at discrediting witnesses, subjects told the filmmakers, but certain key witnesses, like Janet Arvizo, struggled to connect with the jury on their own.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of discrediting
Verb
  • Demonstrators express frustration Protesters marching through Johannesburg’s city center Tuesday included young men carrying traditional fighting sticks and women of all ages.
    — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Dark figures were darting through the shadows—Germans were carrying sacks and pillows to their building.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of carrying

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demeaned
demeaning
demeanor
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Cite this Entry

“Demeaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demeaning. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on demeaning

Nglish: Translation of demeaning for Spanish Speakers

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