Dehumanized: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when talking about situations where people are treated as if they are not human. This often involves extreme cruelty or neglect.

• The prisoners felt dehumanized by their captors.
• The grueling work conditions left employees feeling completely dehumanized.

This word is suitable when referring to situations where someone or something is lowered in quality, respect, or status. It can also mean to break down over time.

• The harsh words were meant to degrade her self-esteem.
• Pollution will eventually degrade the quality of the soil.

Use this term when describing situations where individuals are treated as mere objects or numbers, often removing the sense of individuality or personality.

• The new company policy seems to depersonalize employee interactions.
• Depersonalize patient care can be detrimental to their mental health.

This word is best used when talking about a reduction in the value, importance, or quality of something, often in a more tangible or measurable way.

• Constant criticism can devalue a person's hard work.
• Inflation has significantly devalued the national currency.

Used when someone is treated as though they lack human qualities, often in a cruel or inhumane manner. This term is commonly used in discussions about war, slavery, or extreme oppression.

• The prisoners were dehumanized, forced to live in horrendous conditions with little to no care.
• The movie portrays how the character was dehumanized by society.

Used when someone is treated or portrayed as if they are evil or malevolent. This term is often used in political discourse, media, and narratives that exaggerate someone's negative qualities.

• The politician was demonized by the media during the election campaign.
• It's unfair to demonize an entire group based on the actions of a few individuals.

Applied when someone is humiliated or reduced in rank, status, or value. It can be used in various contexts, including work environments, social interactions, and while talking about moral or ethical decline.

• The manager's comments were intended to degrade her in front of her colleagues.
• Pollution continues to degrade the environment.

Used when someone's individuality or personal identity is stripped away, often making them feel like a mere statistic or number. This term is often used in medical, bureaucratic, or institutional settings.

• The patient felt depersonalized by the hospital's impersonal treatment routines.
• Customer service can often depersonalize interactions, making people feel like just another complaint.