Definitions

1. verb

to treat someone as if they were not human, to deprive someone of their human dignity or rights, or to make someone’s behavior less humane

“The soldiers’ actions dehumanized the enemy, making it easier for them to carry out their duties.”

2. verb

to make something seem less appealing or less worthy of respect

“The company’s decision to cut jobs dehumanized the office environment, making it seem less like a community and more like a machine.”

3. noun

the act of treating someone as if they were not human, or the process of making something seem less appealing or less worthy of respect

“The dehumanization of the enemy was a key factor in the soldiers’ decision to engage in combat.”