Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

dehumanize

[dee-hyoo-muh-nahyz, -yoo-] / diˈhju məˌnaɪz, -ˈju- /
VERB
to deprive of dignity; treat as less than human
Synonyms
STRONGEST
STRONG
WEAK
barbarize brutalize imbrute
Antonyms


VERB
remove the need for human skills
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“We need to support artists, not dehumanize them.”

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 6, 2025

Social media has a way of exacerbating preexisting social tensions and divisions, making it easier to dehumanize the other side and engage in a kind of verbal warfare.

From Slate Sep. 12, 2025

“Bishop Rojas’ decision signals that the Church’s mission encompasses a higher calling: to embrace the downtrodden, welcome the stranger and distance itself from policies that dehumanize them.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 11, 2025

How far are we willing to go to utterly dehumanize ourselves?

From Salon Dec. 24, 2024

Treating differences as a threat enables one society to dehumanize the other.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

“When political leaders, influencers, and those with a large social platform choose language that dehumanizes communities, families get hurt, and hate crimes rise.”

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 28, 2024

“The use of the word ‘inmate’ further dehumanizes and demoralizes them,” he said in Ms. Hochul’s press release.

From Washington Times Aug. 9, 2022

“It really dehumanizes the events, the consequences of shootings, and makes it all into a joke,” said Whitney Phillips, a longtime disinformation researcher.

From New York Times Jun. 7, 2022

“After almost three years of experiencing all the harassment, it robs your sense of security — it almost dehumanizes you,” said Barraza, a production associate who works on the Tesla Model 3.

From Washington Post Nov. 19, 2021

The wonderful device meant to enrich life has become a weapon which dehumanizes people.

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Sterling, Bruce

The press corps has a job to do, but observers say its presence and callous pursuit of images that will sell can make immigrants feel dehumanized.

From Slate Oct. 10, 2025

There's such a complicated relationship between Black America, loving this country, and being so dehumanized through time.

From Salon Feb. 13, 2024

“Migrants are dehumanized and considered as nothing more than potential labor, entitled only to precarious regularization offers,” the French association said.

From Washington Times Nov. 6, 2023

Instead of the usual dehumanized foil, Huerta’s portrayal elevates a brown body as dazzling and divine.

From Seattle Times Dec. 28, 2022

“People as far on the fringes as you can get, completely dehumanized by ‘normal’ society.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Pope Leo XIV on Monday warned that AI risked enshrining “an anti-human vision,” replacing jobs with dehumanizing work and consuming vast amounts of water and energy.

From The Wall Street Journal May 28, 2026

“The majority of Americans still believe in decency,” Obama said, adding that the normalization of racist and dehumanizing content reflects a dangerous loss of civic responsibility.

From Salon Feb. 15, 2026

They added that they "oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people" and "pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence".

From BBC Dec. 23, 2025

“We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.”

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 13, 2025

Nothing is more dehumanizing than the absence of human companionship.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela




Vocabulary lists containing dehumanize


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training