demeaning
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of demeaning
Explanation
The adjective demeaning describes something that lowers a person's reputation or dignity. If your boss always asks you to pick up her dry cleaning and get her coffee, you might feel like you usually get the demeaning jobs. The adjective demeaning comes from the verb demean, which itself is based on the construction of the word "debase." The word demean has two almost opposite meanings, to degrade and to conduct oneself in a particular manner, usually a proper one. The adjective, however, always describes something that is degrading. Overhearing two friends gossiping about you can be a demeaning experience, even if they're just criticizing your new haircut.
Vocabulary lists containing demeaning
Into the Wild
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Promises to Keep
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You Call This Democracy?
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Demeaning language is often used against Mexico’s Indigenous people.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 12, 2022
Which is what she tweets, a lot, along with dancing penguins and, the day after we meet, a link to a montage titled: “How Debbie Harry Learned to Deal With Superficial, Demeaning Interviewers.”
From The Guardian • Jul. 21, 2019
Demeaning slugfests have now become the regular order.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2016
Lawyer Suspended for Demeaning Comments about Judge A Florida lawyer named Kevin C. Gleason was suspended from practicing in bankruptcy court for 60 days after making “disrespectful and impertinent” attacks on U.S.
From BusinessWeek • Sep. 21, 2011
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
