demean

¹

[dih-meen]

verb (used with object)

1. to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase.

   He demeaned himself by accepting the bribe.

   Synonyms: mortify, humiliate, humble, degrade
   Antonyms: honor, dignify

demean

²

[dih-meen]

verb (used with object)

1. to conduct or behave (oneself ) in a specified manner.

noun

1. Archaic.,  demeanor.

demean

¹

/ dɪˈmiːn /

verb

1. (tr) to lower (oneself) in dignity, status, or character; humble; debase

demean

²

/ dɪˈmiːn /

verb

1. rare,  (tr) to behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified way

Word History and Origins

Origin of demean¹

1595–1605; de- + mean ², modeled on debase

Origin of demean²

1250–1300; Middle English deme ( i ) nen < Anglo-French, Old French demener, equivalent to de- de- + mener to lead, conduct < Latin mināre to drive, minārī to threaten

Word History and Origins

Origin of demean¹

C17: see _de- , _mean ²; on the model of debase

Origin of demean²

C13: from Old French demener, from _de- + mener to lead, drive, from Latin mināre to drive (animals), from minārī to use threats

Example Sentences

Losing your job might be demeaning, but losing your integrity for the shot at a job is dehumanizing.

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Essay Topic: An obsessive need to demean and diminish others is explained by some behavioral therapists as a sign of insecurity, weakness, or an unhappy childhood.

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Gutfeld cursed on air, demeaned the loss of life from another assassination earlier this year and cited information that was incorrect to back his tirade.

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In practice, it led to some of the most demeaning tactics schools have ever deployed against their own students.

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They insist that any mention of the country’s flawed history demeans and ignores what it has done right, and therefore any failures must not be mentioned at all.

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Related Words

• belittle 
• debase 
• degrade 
• despise 
• disparage