demoralize

verb

de·​mor·​al·​ize di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 

ˌdē-,

-ˈmär-

demoralized; demoralizing; demoralizes

transitive verb

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

c

: to throw into disorder

demoralization

di-ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌdē-

-ˌmär-

noun

demoralizer

di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

ˌdē-

-ˈmär-

noun

demoralizingly

di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-ziŋ-lē 

ˌdē-

-ˈmär-

adverb

Synonyms

• emasculate
• paralyze
• undo
• unman
• unnerve
• unstring

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 Russians had hit a power station nearby, the latest strike in a continuing effort to destroy Ukraine’s power grid and demoralize the population as winter sets in. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

But instead, the Eagles unfurled a demoralizing 21-play, 99-yard drive that ended with Hurts kneeling. —Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

In reality, the effort has been a demoralizing failure. —Craig Hooper, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Perhaps most important, HTS calculated that poorly trained, underpaid, and demoralized Syrian army forces would not put up more than token resistance. —Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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

demoralization

-ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌmär-

noun

demoralizer

-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

-ˈmär-

noun