demean

[dih-meen]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR demean ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase: He demeaned himself by accepting the bribe.

Origin of demean

1595–1605; de- + mean², modeled on debase

Synonyms for demean

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR demean ON THESAURUS.COM

degrade, humble, humiliate, mortify.

Antonyms for demean

dignify, honor.

demean

[dih-meen]

verb (used with object)

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

noun

Archaic. demeanor.

Origin of demean

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for demean

despise, disparage, debase, degrade, belittle, derogate, lower, contemn, stoop, decry, sink, detract, scorn, abase, pan, descend, bad-mouth, bemean, dis, poor-mouth

Examples from the Web for demean

Contemporary Examples of demean

Modern campaigns rarely elevate any subject and have a terrible tendency to demean all who participate.
Secret Campaign for Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Stuart Stevens
September 12, 2013
Hand it off to a hen-pecked husband or a put-upon assistant and it can demean or belittle.
The Language of Margaret Thatcher’s Handbags
Robin Givhan
April 8, 2013
The Taliban have said the comments comparing war to a game 'demean' Harry.
Prince Harry: "Take a Life To Save A Life", Confirms He Has Killed Insurgents
Tom Sykes
January 22, 2013
Canadians are generally mistrustful of rules that subordinate or demean women.
The Canadian Supreme Court's Punt on the Niqab
David Frum
December 22, 2012
“He is trying to shock whoever finds the body,” said Shepard, who said that Hughes was trying also to demean his victims.
LA’s Grisly Woman Killer
Christine Pelisek
October 27, 2011

Historical Examples of demean

Did she not break into lamentation and woe that a brother should so demean himself?
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
One who has reached my years, and who has a name for wisdom, ought not to demean himself.
Apology
Plato
Of course he was not going to demean himself by talking to "that atheist's daughter."
We Two
Edna Lyall
She had been well tutored on every point, what to say and how to demean herself.
The Golden Dog
William Kirby
For all I've had to demean myself to wait on sich as you, I'm a Christian!
A Sheaf of Corn
Mary E. Mann

British Dictionary definitions for demean

demean

verb

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

Word Origin for demean

C17: see de-, mean ²; on the model of debase

demean

verb

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

Word Origin for demean

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for demean

"lower in dignity," c.1600, perhaps from de- "down" + mean (adj.) and modeled on debase. Indistinguishable in some uses from obsolete demean (see demeanor) which influenced it and may be its true source. Related: Demeaned; demeaning.