demean

verb
UK: /dɪˈmiːn/
US: /dɪˈmiːn/

  1. To lower someone's dignity or status.

    1. Don't demean yourself by arguing with him, you're better than that.
    2. I wouldn't demean myself by responding to such a foolish accusation, it's beneath me.

  2. To cause a loss of respect; to degrade.

    1. He would never demean himself by lying to get ahead in life.
    2. The politician's actions demeaned the office he held, causing public outrage.

Synonyms

degrade humiliate disgrace dishonor abase lower
demean adjective

  1. Showing a lack of dignity or status; degraded.

    1. The demeaning comments affected her confidence very badly.
    2. Dealing with such demeaning situations made her stronger over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "demean" in English means: To lower someone's dignity or status., To cause a loss of respect; to degrade..

The phonetic transcription of "demean" is /dɪˈmiːn/ in British English and /dɪˈmiːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "demean": degrade, humiliate, disgrace, dishonor, abase, lower.

Example usage of "demean": "Don't demean yourself by arguing with him, you're better than that.". More examples on the page.