Demote is a word that is used to describe a reduction in rank or status. However, there are several other words that can be used in place of demote. One such word is downgrade, which refers to the act of lowering someone's position within an organization or company. Another synonym for demote is declass, which is often used in government or military contexts to describe the act of reducing someone's security clearance. Other possible synonyms for demote include depose, displace, dismiss, and remove. All of these words imply some form of demotion or reduction in rank, whether it be within a company, organization, or government body.