as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
demanded an apology for his demeaning comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demeaning
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
This comes after the former president's Madison Square Garden rally where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made demeaning jokes about Puerto Rico and Latinos in general.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Also, the former president has made demeaning comments about women in the past.
—Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2024
And there is the proof of Trump’s genius in choosing Vance: A man for whom no lie is to brazen, no attack too far, no dodge too demeaning — no step too far in his pursuit of eminence.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demeaning 
Adjective
Oz winces when Al throws him a big old necklace from the family jewel case; the gesture is completely demeaning.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
This comes after the former president's Madison Square Garden rally where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made demeaning jokes about Puerto Rico and Latinos in general.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Also, the former president has made demeaning comments about women in the past.
—Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2024
And there is the proof of Trump’s genius in choosing Vance: A man for whom no lie is to brazen, no attack too far, no dodge too demeaning — no step too far in his pursuit of eminence.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demeaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demeaning
Adjective
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Courts should continue to quickly reject his absurd, insulting, and ahistorical legal arguments, which violate the clear text of the 14th Amendment.—
Elizabeth Wydra and Nina Henry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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For many, the very idea was insulting and represented an abandonment of loyal fans in Birmingham who can’t afford to fly out to the United States.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Thanks to the internet and smartphones, children today have instant access to vast amounts of online pornography, much of it graphic, violent and degrading, Texas state attorneys told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.—
David G. Savage,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Jan. 2025
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The source added that Trump’s history of attacking the Obama family and making degrading comments about people of color doesn’t sit well with her.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Though many consider the term as socially derogatory against Venezuelans, the collaborators looked to reclaim the label through their empowering lyrics.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2025
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The distinction of being a direct-to-video release is a little muddled now that streaming has normalized skipping movie theaters, but Joseph: King of Dreams is very much a direct-to-video release in the obvious, derogatory sense.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Their malicious actions are putting the health of people, especially children, at grave risk, and will surely lead to future public health and migration crises in the U.S. – let alone suffering around the globe.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
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National Security Meet the man leading the front-line effort in Ukraine's cyberwar with Russia Sources speculate that the messages were artfully crafted to not use specific slurs, possibly sketchy URLs or obviously malicious language that filters would catch.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
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Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier.—
Emily DeLetter,
The Enquirer,
10 May 2023
Adjective
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The 2014 legislation also benefited the children of veterans and students without reliable housing or living in abusive households.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2025
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The departure follows in the wake of a number of European cinema bodies and figures quitting X in recent months – including the Berlinale and Venice head Alberto Barbera – amid concerns about a surge in disinformation and abusive content on the platform since Musk took ownership in 2022.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In conservative circles, the pejorative label stuck.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Dec. 2024
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These asylum seekers came to be known as Vietnamese boat people, a name that has come to be regarded as pejorative — the sort of dehumanizing language often used in indexing immigrants.—
Brendan Quinn,
The Athletic,
1 July 2024
Adjective
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Though the pollen gunk will pass, he's concerned by a contingent of Twitter trolls who've shared uncomplimentary reviews of his recent North American tour.—
Jordan Runtagh,
PEOPLE.com,
21 Jan. 2022
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Neither party admitted to liability and each agreed to refrain from making disparaging, negative or uncomplimentary statements about the other, the document said.—
Lorraine Mirabella,
Baltimore Sun,
29 July 2022
Thesaurus Entries Near demeaning
Cite this Entry
“Demeaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demeaning. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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