demean

/dɪˈmin/

/dɪˈmin/

Other forms: demeaning; demeaned; demeans

To demean someone is to insult them. To demean is to degrade or put down a person or thing.

If you noticed the word mean in demean, that's a good clue to its meaning. To demean someone is very mean. You are demeaning your sister or brother if you run their underwear up a flagpole. A teacher could demean a student by saying "You're stupid!" To demean is to insult: no one wants to be demeaned. Insulting language is often called demeaning. We can also say a bad president demeaned his office.

Definitions of demean

1. verb

   reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
   synonyms: degrade, disgrace, put down, take down

   types:

   reduce

   lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation

   dehumanise, dehumanize

   deprive of human qualities

   type of:

   abase, chagrin, humble, humiliate, mortify

   cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of