demean

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To debase; to lower; to degrade.
2. (transitive) To humble; to humiliate.
3. (transitive) To mortify.

Noun

1. (obsolete, transitive, uncountable, usually) Management; treatment.
2. (obsolete, transitive, uncountable, usually) Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor.

Noun

1. (transitive) demesne.
2. (transitive) resources; means.

Synonyms

degrade

debase

humiliate

abase

disgrace

take down

cheapen

humble

behave

discredit

grovel

derogate

conduct oneself

mortify

put down

devalue

diminish

dishonor

disparage

downgrade

downsize

draw

draw a line

drop

entreat

let down

look down

lower

pull down

reduce

roll out

ruin

run down

shrink

streak

vilify

wreck

write down

cry down

make a stroke

pull to pieces

lessen

abridge

beg

bring down

carry

comport

couch

🛋️

cut up

decrease

Translations

abaisser

erniedrigen

vernederen

degradar

umiliare

rebajar

dégrader

demütigen

εξευτελίζω

rabaisser

kleinmaken

s’abaisser

svilire

أخزى

degradare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪˈmiːn/

Etymology

(1595) From de- + mean (“lowly, base, common”), from Middle English mene, aphetic variation of imene (“mean, base, common”), from Old English ġemǣne (“mean, common”). Compare English bemean.