deprived of dignity

USAGE SUMMARY

"deprived of dignity" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts discussing loss of respect, honor, or self-worth. Example: "The unjust treatment left him feeling deprived of dignity." Alternative expressions include "stripped of dignity" and "denied dignity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

11.41am GMT Elderly and vulnerable patients were deprived of dignity and respect.

The Guardian

The victim was stripped, in order to be deprived of dignity, then paraded, then whipped bloody, and then left to die as slowly as possible in as public a manner as conceivable.

The New Yorker

The village, demoralized by decades of senseless bureaucratic controls, deprived of dignity by the priority given to industrialization and denuded of its youngest and brightest, remains mired in backwardness and apathy.

The New York Times

"This was the last stand of people deprived of dignity and hope," Mr Komorowski said.

BBC

The existence of individuals deprived of dignity, as highlighted, amongst other things, by Personalism, is internally contradictory, but not only on a semantic level, but even violates the principle of consistency in its ontological approach (Ajdukiewicz 1985).

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

A woman taking off her clothes or posing scantily clad is an object deprived of dignity and self-respect.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

For while the people of Yarmouk and other civilians in Syria are deprived of their dignity, the dignity of all of us is diminished.

The Guardian

The people of Bahrain now want what the regime of the ruling Khalifa family can perhaps never afford to give despite its vast resources: the much-sought basic dignity in freedom through a democracy that is by far the overwhelming dream of almost every person deprived of human dignity and freedom.

The New York Times

I felt deprived of my dignity and my independence.

Huffington Post

Those who make the wrong choice are deprived of their dignity.

Huffington Post

Late in his life, in exile in Britain and having been deprived of his Persian dignity by the revolution that discarded him, he said to me of the nuclear talks that were seemingly stalled forever that the Americans "harf-e zoor meezanan", which translates roughly as the US "is talking with the language of imposition".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase often functions well in the passive voice (e.g. "the victims were deprived of dignity") to highlight the impact on those suffering.

Common error

Avoid using "deprived of dignity" when you actually mean someone lost their pride or vanity. Dignity refers to the inherent right to respect and ethical treatment, whereas pride is often a more personal or ego-driven emotion.

Linguistic Context

In linguistic structures, "deprived of dignity" functions as a past participle phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it frequently serves as a subject complement or an appositive, describing the state of a person or group subjected to poor treatment. It is an idiomatic construction where the verb "deprive" is paired with the preposition "of" and the abstract noun "dignity".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deprived of dignity" is a powerful and grammatically correct expression widely used in high-quality journalism and humanitarian contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently found in reputable sources like The Guardian and The New York Times to highlight systemic neglect or human rights abuses. While it is somewhat uncommon in casual speech, it remains a vital term for formal writing that addresses ethical concerns. Alternatives like stripped of dignity provide a more forceful nuance, but "deprived of dignity" remains the standard for describing a state of profound and unjust loss of respect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stripped of dignity

Implies a more forceful and sudden removal of honor

robbed of dignity

Adds a connotation of theft or unfair loss

denied dignity

Suggests a systemic refusal to acknowledge a person worth

degraded

A single word focusing on the reduction of status or quality

treated with indignity

Shifts focus to the active behavior of the oppressor

devoid of dignity

Describes a state where dignity is entirely absent

stripped of self-respect

Focuses on the internal psychological impact rather than external status

humiliated

Emphasizes the emotional shame resulting from the loss

made to feel subhuman

A stronger expression denoting extreme dehumanization

lost their dignity

A more general way to describe the outcome without specifying the cause

FAQs

How do I use "deprived of dignity" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a state of being, such as: "The refugees were forced to live in conditions that left them "deprived of dignity"."

Is "deprived of dignity" correct in formal writing?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for formal contexts, especially in legal, humanitarian or journalistic writing.

What is the difference between "deprived of dignity" and "stripped of dignity"?

While very similar, "stripped of dignity" sounds more aggressive and intentional, whereas "deprived of dignity" can sometimes imply neglect or a gradual loss.

What are some synonyms for "deprived of dignity"?

Common alternatives include being "degraded", "robbed of dignity" or "treated shamefully".