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demeaning adjective [ dɪˈmiːnɪŋ ]

• causing someone to lose their dignity and the respect of others.
• "the poster was not demeaning to women"

demean verb

• cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something).
• "I had demeaned the profession"
Similar: degrading, humiliating, shaming, shameful, bringing shame, mortifying, abject, lowering, ignominious, undignified, inglorious, discrediting, menial, infra dig,
Opposite: ennobling,
Origin: early 17th century: from de- ‘away, down’ + the adjective mean2, on the pattern of debase .

demean verb

• conduct oneself in a particular way.
• "no man demeaned himself so honourably"
Origin: Middle English (also in the sense ‘manage, control’): from Old French demener ‘to lead’, based on Latin de- ‘away’ + minare ‘drive (animals), drive on with threats’ (from minari ‘threaten’).


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