entwürdigen

Entwürdigen is a German transitive verb meaning to deprive someone of dignity, to dishonor, or to debase. It is used in moral, legal, and literary contexts to describe acts that humiliate a person or desecrate a symbol, place, or ritual. The term often implies a severe violation of personhood or respect.

The word is formed with the prefix ent- and Würde (dignity). It takes a direct object in the accusative, as in "Jemanden entwürdigen" or "die Würde des Menschen entwürdigen." The passive form "entwürdigt werden" is common in describing ongoing or completed actions. The noun form is Entwürdigung.

Usage notes and scope: Entwürdigen is a strong term tied to dignity and ethical or legal critique. It is typically used for serious mistreatment, abuse, or desecration, and can appear in contexts ranging from human rights discussions to literary descriptions. It is stronger than terms like erniedrigen (to humiliate) and can be applied metaphorically to the desecration of sacred or cultural symbols as well as to persons.

See also: Würde (dignity), Ehre (honor), entehrung (deglorification/dishonor), entziehen der Würde (to strip someone of dignity), Entwürdigung (the act of entwürdigen).

Examples: "Der Täter entwürdigte das Opfer durch Misshandlungen." "Die Würde des Menschen darf niemals entwürdigt werden." "In religiösen Kontexten kann das Entwürdigen heiliger Symbole besonders gravierende Folgen haben."