demeaning

[ dih-mee-ning ]

adjective

1. that demeans; demean; debasing; degrading:

   Being forced to apologize when I had done nothing wrong was a demeaning task.

Word History and Origins

Origin of demeaning¹

First recorded in 1875–80; demean ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

They may also be subjected to invasive and demeaning physical tests intended to deduce if they are LGBTQ in those countries.

From The Daily Beast

The path towards real change comes with the development of empathy for those who are on the receiving end of this type of degrading and demeaning behavior, no matter the proffered intent of that behavior.

From Voice of San Diego

The Tweet prompted scrutiny that led to revelations that she had been accused of demeaning students of color at her previous institution.

From No Straight News

Automation historically has tended to take the most dirty and dangerous and demeaning jobs and hand them over to machines, and that’s been great.

From Vox

They put you in jobs that are absolutely meaningless and demeaning.

From Freakonomics

I was under the impression that “girls” is a demeaning term for adult women.

From The Daily Beast

She revealed the demeaning discrimination that nearly crippled the souls of black folks in Mississippi.

From The Daily Beast

And I am prepared to do some pretty demeaning things in order to make sure I get to see it again, because I loved it just so much.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, writers at prominent online media outlets chide us for “demeaning” vaccine-deniers, saying to do so “defies explanation.”

From The Daily Beast

Or that being financially provoked to accept a demeaning offer is some form of personal triumph.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, to "go out as a son-in-law," as the Japanese idiom hath it, is considered demeaning to the matrimonial domestic.

From Project Gutenberg

Binney Gibbs, however, considered such duties irksome and demeaning.

From Project Gutenberg

If it should be so that she had given him cause of anger, how could she make peace with him without demeaning herself?

From Project Gutenberg

First, self-respecting ones dislike the demeaning effect of a tip (an occasional few won't take them).

From Project Gutenberg

The niece of Michele Pignaver is incapable of demeaning herself with a mountebank, sir!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• defamatory
• degrading
• disparaging
• sarcastic
• slanderous
• unflattering