demeaningly

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Word: Demeaningly

Part of Speech: Adverb

Definition: "Demeaningly" means to do something in a way that makes someone feel less important or respected. It suggests that the action is humiliating or belittling.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "demeaningly" when describing how someone behaves or speaks to another person in a way that lowers their dignity or self-worth.

Example:

• "She spoke to him demeaningly, as if his opinions didn’t matter at all."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "demeaningly" can be used in discussions about social dynamics, power imbalances, or in literature to describe character interactions that highlight themes of respect and dignity.

Word Variants:

• Demean: (verb) To lower in dignity or honor.
• Demeaning: (adjective) Causing a loss of dignity; humiliating.

Different Meaning:

While "demeaningly" focuses on the manner of behavior, "demean" alone refers more generally to the act of lowering someone’s dignity without necessarily describing how it is done.

Synonyms:

• Humiliatingly
• Belittlingly
• Disparagingly
• Degradingly

Idioms:

There aren’t specific idioms that directly use "demeaningly," but you might hear phrases like: - "Put someone down" - which means to insult or belittle someone. - "Talk down to someone" - which means to speak to someone as if they are less intelligent or important.

Phrasal Verbs:

While "demeaningly" doesn’t have direct phrasal verbs, the following phrases convey a similar sentiment: - Look down on - to regard someone as inferior. - Put down - to criticize or belittle someone.

Academic

Adverb

1. in a humiliating manner
   • the painting was reproduced humiliatingly small

Synonyms

• humiliatingly