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

Many analysts refuse to publicly acknowledge these realities, in part out of fear that doing so would embolden Russia and demoralize Ukraine. —Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024

During the first run, Combs subjected contestants to outlandish, demoralizing tasks that had nothing to do with making music. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024

The only way to win the war would be to demoralize the enemy. —Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024

That’s why Putin’s strategy also appears aimed at demoralizing Ukraine’s population. —Lauren Kent, CNN, 3 Nov. 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