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
But that doesn’t mean setting impossible, demoralizing goals.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The five months since the November 2024 presidential election have been among the most challenging and frequently demoralizing in the modern history of the Democratic Party.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
And Musk’s approach so far has been read by many of those most immediately affected as antagonistic, demoralizing and callous.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
After a thrilling air battle between the U.S. and Japan over the vast reserves of adamantium inside the dead Celestial, the Falcon is terribly injured, leading to Sam becoming demoralized.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
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Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The five months since the November 2024 presidential election have been among the most challenging and frequently demoralizing in the modern history of the Democratic Party.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
And Musk’s approach so far has been read by many of those most immediately affected as antagonistic, demoralizing and callous.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
After a thrilling air battle between the U.S. and Japan over the vast reserves of adamantium inside the dead Celestial, the Falcon is terribly injured, leading to Sam becoming demoralized.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 4 Apr. 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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