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
David K. Li, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2024
Those themes are echoed by other high-profile Twitter users, like provocateur Laurence Fox, who hosted a show on the right-wing GB News TV channel until he was fired last October for demeaning the appearance of a female journalist on air.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
Also off limits: demeaning terms for particular groups of people, references to hate groups and negative nods to political figures like Joe Biden or Donald Trump.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 13 Aug. 2024
Kelly reveres McCain, whom Donald Trump demeaned for having been shot down over Vietnam, captured, imprisoned for 5½ years and undergone years of torture rather than leave his fellow POWs behind.
—John Lawrence, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for demean 
Verb
Rowling has, for years, drawn fire for her comments demeaning the trans community.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2024
Those themes are echoed by other high-profile Twitter users, like provocateur Laurence Fox, who hosted a show on the right-wing GB News TV channel until he was fired last October for demeaning the appearance of a female journalist on air.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
Also off limits: demeaning terms for particular groups of people, references to hate groups and negative nods to political figures like Joe Biden or Donald Trump.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 13 Aug. 2024
Kelly reveres McCain, whom Donald Trump demeaned for having been shot down over Vietnam, captured, imprisoned for 5½ years and undergone years of torture rather than leave his fellow POWs behind.
—John Lawrence, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for demean
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Cite this Entry
“Demean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demean. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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