1
as in to degrade
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 to humiliate
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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as in to behave
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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Recent Examples of demean
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
There is no up side to demeaning our friends.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2026
They were being demeaned for that, or devalued for that in this critical time.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demean
Verb
There is so much energy in Falk’s writing that the reader can feel tensions in the city as officials, some working secretly with the bosses, try to stop the cigar factory women from organizing, call them Communists and demean them for being Polish.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
There is no up side to demeaning our friends.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2026
They were being demeaned for that, or devalued for that in this critical time.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demean
Cite this Entry
“Demean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demean. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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