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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Not in a demeaning way but in a loving a caring way. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 The happiness ends when Kaisa gets an internship in Paris, but Ossi can’t join her because he is forced to attend an absurd and demeaning course for the long-time unemployed. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 May 2026
Verb
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 Great leaders demand excellence without demeaning their people. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 14 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
  • Chronic stress takes a serious toll on the body—accelerating aging, undermining cardiovascular health and degrading your immune and metabolic systems.
    — Shefali Raina, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Sports betting is degrading the financial health of the most vulnerable households, according to a new study that tees up an emerging political issue.
    — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of degrading
Verb
  • The Iranians are now setting the terms of this conflict and are routinely humiliating the American president.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of humiliating
Verb
  • Tamra’s story line with Vicki and Shannon is the only one that doesn’t have to do with children, though a few of them are behaving like children.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • Regardless, men behaving in a repulsed or shocked way when a man dresses feminine or in women’s clothing is homophobic.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
Definition of behaving
Adjective
  • Silvia Federici, a longtime feminist writer, thinker and professor, said that gossip's derogatory transformation reflected societal shifts.
    — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • Trump has repeatedly made derogatory and racist comments about immigrants, including calling them criminals and falsely saying that Haitians eat cats and dogs.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Definition of derogatory
Verb
  • The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reported that AI training data and inputs are being manipulated and warned that attackers could influence model behavior by corrupting the information AI systems rely upon.
    — Syed Ali, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 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
  • That was part of his wider goal of sending endless waves of bomb-carrying drones and robots to hit Russian encampments in a bid to sharply reduce Ukraine’s casualties.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Then in April, one of the company’s ships was passing Puerto Rico between two other jobs while carrying an advanced underwater drone with the right sensors to find the plane.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 July 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 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on demeaning

Nglish: Translation of demeaning for Spanish Speakers

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