demoralize
verb
de·mor·al·ize
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 
ˌdē-,
-ˈmär-
demoralized; demoralizing; demoralizes
1
: to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : to corrupt the morals of
2
a
: to weaken the morale of : discourage, dispirit
were demoralized by the loss
b
: to upset or destroy the normal functioning of
foreclosures were further demoralizing an already desperate real-estate market—
F. D. Roosevelt
F. D. Roosevelt
c
: to throw into disorder
Examples of demoralize in a Sentence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week
Recent Examples on the Web
The scene at KeyBank Center had been a demoralizing one in recent weeks.
—Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Tina’s life-changing first encounter with The Beef, during a particularly demoralizing day, underscores the series’ central themes of care and hospitality while fleshing out our understanding of characters like Jon Bernthal’s Mikey from a new perspective.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2024
The primacy that Netanyahu accords self-preservation over national security and even social cohesion is increasingly demoralizing the broad swath of the population that make up the backbone of Israel’s citizen army and modern economy.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Campbell’s fourth-down decisions and Johnson’s play-calling on such downs can demoralize a defense and force a head coach to try to beat Detroit at its own game.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for demoralize 
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Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Tina’s life-changing first encounter with The Beef, during a particularly demoralizing day, underscores the series’ central themes of care and hospitality while fleshing out our understanding of characters like Jon Bernthal’s Mikey from a new perspective.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2024
The primacy that Netanyahu accords self-preservation over national security and even social cohesion is increasingly demoralizing the broad swath of the population that make up the backbone of Israel’s citizen army and modern economy.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
Campbell’s fourth-down decisions and Johnson’s play-calling on such downs can demoralize a defense and force a head coach to try to beat Detroit at its own game.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for demoralize
Dictionary Entries Near demoralize
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
demoralize
verb
de·mor·al·ize
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz
-ˈmär-
1
: to make bad or evil
2
: to weaken in spirit or discipline
fear demoralized the army
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