Search results
- Dictionarydemean/dɪˈmiːn/
verb
- 1. cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something): "I had demeaned the profession"
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
There are two words spelled demean in English. One has a construction similar to its synonym, debase: where debase combines the prefix de- with an adjective base, meaning “low” or “vile,” demean applies de- to the adjective mean, meaning “inferior or contemptible.”.
verb [ T ] us / dɪˈmin / Add to word list. to cause to become less respected: I wouldn’t demean myself by asking my father for money. demeaning. adjective us / dɪˈmi·nɪŋ /
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.
Demean definition: to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase. See examples of DEMEAN used in a sentence.
Definition of demean verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
to cause someone to become less respected: The entire family was demeaned by his behavior. demean yourself I wouldn't demean myself by asking my parents for money. Synonyms. degrade. disgrace. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Humiliating and degrading. abasement. be under a cloud idiom. bring/take someone down a peg (or two) idiom.
1. verb. If you demean yourself, you do something which makes people have less respect for you. He plays a struggling immigrant who is forced to demean himself with a series of bread line jobs. [VERB pronoun-reflexive] 2. verb. To demean someone or something means to make people have less respect for them.
de·mean 1. (dĭ-mēn′) tr.v. de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means. To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class.
Verb. Noun. Filter. verb. demeaned, demeaning, demeans. To lower in status or character; degrade; humble. To demean oneself by taking a bribe. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. To behave, conduct, or comport (oneself) Webster's New World. Similar definitions. To mortify. Wiktionary. Synonyms: disposition. lower. disparage. deportment.
: to cause (someone or something) to seem less important or less worthy of respect. He was careful not to demean [= debase, put down] his opponent, choosing instead to show him respect. Her statement demeans the hard work the group has done.
