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

Unlike other positions afforded to Colored people, where the pay was low and the work was demeaning, teachers were well respected by the community.

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Industry experts at the time said the image put off potential Oscar voters and upset Black activists who claimed he was perpetuating demeaning racial stereotypes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"And I don't say that in any demeaning sense because for white southerners, it's not easy to rid ourselves of all the prejudices that we have born over the centuries."

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Bureaucrats have bristled at the term as misleading and demeaning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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