Disempower: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when describing a situation where someone is deprived of power, rights, or confidence.

• Policies that disempower minority groups; Her constant criticism disempowered him

Used to show a decrease in strength, power, or ability, can be physical or metaphorical.

• The illness weakened her; His argument was weakened by lack of evidence

Used to indicate a reduction in size, importance, or value of something or someone.

• His achievements were diminished by his critics; The new law does not diminish our rights

Refers to gradually making someone or something less effective or weaker, often in a covert way.

• His actions undermined the project; Leaking information can undermine security

Typically used in a technical context or when referring to the act of making someone incapable of functioning normally due to injury or impairment.

• You can disable the alarm system by entering the code; The accident disabled him permanently

Indicates the act of bringing something or someone under control, often by force.

• The police had to subdue the suspect; She tried to subdue her anger

Used when someone is being stripped of their power, authority, or confidence, often in a formal or systemic manner.

• The new policies disempower the employees, making it hard for them to influence decisions.
• By ignoring their input, the management disempowers the team.

Applied when someone's spirit, confidence, or determination is being worn down or broken, often through persistent negativity or challenging circumstances.

• The constant criticism began to demoralize the team.
• Facing repeated rejections can demoralize even the most resilient individuals.

Applicable when someone is being disheartened or deterred from pursuing something, typically by highlighting obstacles or drawbacks; generally neutral but can have negative effects.

• Criticism should be constructive, not discourage the person from trying again.
• The difficult terrain and bad weather discouraged them from continuing the hike.

Used for actions or words that make someone feel less respected or degraded, often implies intentional or significant disrespect; has a negative connotation.

• The cruel comments were meant to demean her in front of her colleagues.
• They demeaned him by giving him menial tasks despite his qualifications.

Employed when someone is making another person feel small or unimportant, often through dismissive comments or actions; carries a negative connotation.

• He always belittles her achievements, making her feel undervalued.
• Don't belittle his efforts; he worked really hard on this project.

Used when reducing the worth or importance of someone or something, often in terms of skills, contributions, or status; can have both negative and neutral connotations.

• Such policies devalue the contributions of part-time workers.
• He felt devalued when he wasn't consulted on important decisions.