The present invention provides non-steroidal compounds of formula I which are selective modulators (i.e., agonists and antagonists) of a steroid receptor, specifically, the glucocorticoid receptor. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods for using these compounds to treat animals requiring glucocorticoid receptor agonist or antagonist therapy. Glucocorticoid receptor modulators are useful to treat diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, inflammation and others as described below. The present invention also provides intermediates and processes for preparing these compounds. ##STR1##