demeans
Lowers someone's dignity
Demeans is the verb form of demean, meaning to lower in dignity or respect.
To demean someone is to treat them as inferior or unworthy: The supervisor's constant criticism demeans the staff.
To demean yourself is to act in a way beneath your standing: I won't demean myself by responding to those accusations.
Subjects to contemptuous laughter
- deridesExpresses contemptuous mockery
- scoffsExpresses mocking disbelief
- tauntsMocking, provoking remarks
- jeersDerisive vocal abuse
sneers · scorns · lampoons · satirizes · parodies · caricatures · belittles · makes fun of
Criticizes to diminish worth
- denigratesCriticizes unfairly, damages reputation
- deprecatesExpresses disapproval of
- diminishesBecomes smaller or weaker
- trivializesMakes light of
minimizes · devalues · discredits · downplays · underestimates · discounts · deflates · patronizes
Causes deep embarrassment
- embarrassesCauses social discomfort
- mortifiesCauses severe embarrassment
- abasesLowers in status
- degradesDiminishes in quality
dishonors · disgraces · stigmatizes · crushes · subjugates · debases · lowers · browbeats
Causes displeasure or resentment
- slursDemeaning identity-based insults
- slandersFalsely damages reputation
- defamesHarms reputation falsely
- vilifiesHarshly criticizes reputation
maligns · reviles · berates · abuses · reproaches · libels · impugns · calumniates
Wears away gradually
- weakensReduces strength or power
- subvertsWeakens or overthrows
- sabotagesDeliberately undermines or destroys
- destabilizesUndermines steadiness or equilibrium
impairs · undercuts · diminishes · hollows out · corrodes · saps · damages · invalidates
ridicules
Subjects to contemptuous laughter
- deridesExpresses contemptuous mockery
- scoffsExpresses mocking disbelief
- tauntsMocking, provoking remarks
jeers · sneers · scorns · lampoons · satirizes · parodies · caricatures · belittles · makes fun of · laughs at
disparages
Criticizes to diminish worth
- denigratesCriticizes unfairly, damages reputation
- deprecatesExpresses disapproval of
- diminishesBecomes smaller or weaker
trivializes · minimizes · devalues · discredits · downplays · underestimates · discounts · deflates · patronizes · condescends
shames
Causes deep embarrassment
- embarrassesCauses social discomfort
- mortifiesCauses severe embarrassment
- abasesLowers in status
degrades · dishonors · disgraces · stigmatizes · crushes · subjugates · debases · lowers · browbeats · bulldozes
offends
Causes displeasure or resentment
- slursDemeaning identity-based insults
- slandersFalsely damages reputation
- defamesHarms reputation falsely
vilifies · maligns · reviles · berates · abuses · reproaches · libels · impugns · calumniates · smears
erodes
Wears away gradually
- weakensReduces strength or power
- subvertsWeakens or overthrows
- sabotagesDeliberately undermines or destroys
destabilizes · impairs · undercuts · diminishes · hollows out · corrodes · saps · damages · invalidates · delegitimizes
- criticismscriticizes, disparages, condemns, denounces, censures
- calm demeanorOutwardly tranquil comportment
- quiet demeanorUnobtrusive personal bearing
- professional demeanorAppropriate workplace conduct
- stoic demeanorUnshakable emotional composure
- reserved demeanorRestrained outward manner
- laid-back demeanorRelaxed outward composure