demoting
Reducing in status
Demoting is reducing someone's rank, status, or position.
An employee gets demoted from manager to associate; a sports team gets demoted to a lower division.
The action reverses a promotion: They're demoting her after the scandal.
By extension, anything can be demoted in importance or priority: I've been demoting sleep lately.
Expressing negative judgment
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
discrediting · devaluing · slighting · insulting · disrespecting · mocking · sneering · scornful
Assignment to lower status
- subordinationLower position in hierarchy
- downgradeReduce in status
- reductionMaking something smaller
- loweringMoving something downward
downshift · degradation · devaluation · diminution · downscaling · displacement · reassignment · redeployment
Decrease or refuse
- downfallSudden loss of power
- regressionReturn to former state
- reversalComplete change of direction
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
downturn · slump · defeat · failure · loss · disappointment · adversity · fall
Painful awareness of failure
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- disgraceLoss of honor
- dishonorLoss of respect
- abasementState of being lowered
mortification · indignity · humbling · chagrin · degradation · stigma · loss of face · public
Shifting to new duties
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- redeploymentRelocating resources or personnel
- performanceCarrying out a task
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
feedback · termination · discipline · management · supervisor · HR · probation · transfer
disparaging
Expressing negative judgment
- denigratingCriticizing to damage reputation
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- underminingWeakening by covert means
diminishing · discrediting · devaluing · slighting · insulting · disrespecting · mocking · sneering · scornful · condescending
relegation
Assignment to lower status
- subordinationLower position in hierarchy
- downgradeReduce in status
- reductionMaking something smaller
lowering · downshift · degradation · devaluation · diminution · downscaling · displacement · reassignment · redeployment · reclassification
decline
Decrease or refuse
- downfallSudden loss of power
- regressionReturn to former state
- reversalComplete change of direction
deterioration · downturn · slump · defeat · failure · loss · disappointment · adversity · fall · descent
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- disgraceLoss of honor
- dishonorLoss of respect
abasement · mortification · indignity · humbling · chagrin · degradation · stigma · loss of face · public · discomfiture
reassignment
Shifting to new duties
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- redeploymentRelocating resources or personnel
- performanceCarrying out a task
evaluation · feedback · termination · discipline · management · supervisor · HR · probation · transfer · lateral
- business activitiesmeetings, meeting, hiring, firing, training
- postponingdeferring, delaying, postponing, putting off, rescheduling
- discriminationracism, systemic discrimination, Jim Crow laws, sexism, racial harassment
- punishmentsjail, prison, timeout, grounded, fine