1
as in degrades
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliates
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in behaves
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
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Recent Examples of demeans
Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
That’s another lazy phrase that demeans the dynamic of sport.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demeans
Verb
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Proteins, which are made up of sequences of amino acids, are more robust than ancient DNA, a fragile molecule that degrades relatively easily.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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For people with diabetes, heat degrades temperature‑sensitive medications and makes blood sugar harder to control.—
Anthony Nicome,
STAT,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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And the President doesn’t seem to mind if Vance humiliates himself running errands.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The founder’s role is evolving from chief decision maker to chief architect, someone who designs the systems, encodes the values, and governs the trajectories that determine how an organization behaves at scale.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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That will affect how El Niño behaves.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Verb
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As complexity rises, decisions fragment, priorities shift and trust weakens.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Dec. 2025
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Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His remarks amplified on his long-running view that US clout is waning against China’s, a perspective that carries weight because of his experience in China with Bridgewater, the world’s largest hedge fund — experience that has brought some criticism over his links to leaders in Beijing.—
David Westin,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
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Surgeries, skin graft, and years of rehab For 28-year-old Jessica Aguilar, every mile carries extra meaning, because making it to the starting line is a victory.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Verb
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One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
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The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the proud lineage of pint-sized blonde women who’ve held their own against Madonna, Carpenter acquits herself quite well.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demeans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demeans. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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