1
as in to paralyze
to deprive of courage or confidence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week
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3
as in to humiliate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
felt society as a whole has been demoralized by the widespread availability of pornography
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demoralize
For weeks, groups have organized anti-Tesla protests across the U.S. in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Donald Trump’s November victory.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Ignoring someone altogether because of the invisible barrier noise canceling headphones can provide can feel demoralizing and, yes, downright rude to a person with whom you're expected to interact.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025
Financial difficulties and health flare-ups while balancing day-to-day responsibilities can be demoralizing at best.
—Diane Winiarski, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Some antiracists have been pretty demoralized by recent events.
—John Blake, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Ignoring someone altogether because of the invisible barrier noise canceling headphones can provide can feel demoralizing and, yes, downright rude to a person with whom you're expected to interact.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025
Financial difficulties and health flare-ups while balancing day-to-day responsibilities can be demoralizing at best.
—Diane Winiarski, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Some antiracists have been pretty demoralized by recent events.
—John Blake, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralize
Verb
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Financial markets have crashed, consumers are frightened, and deals are paralyzed.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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When Gordon approached Rudolph to write and direct a music video for Teddy Pendergrass, who had recently been paralyzed in a car crash, Rudolph saw an opportunity.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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All these incidents may have discouraged some potential Tesla buyers from going ahead with their purchases.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
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The goal would be to discourage the use of the bags, which not only harm the environment but can clog city sewer drains and lead to street flooding.—
Karri Peifer,
Axios,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump World even humiliated Abe by letting it be known that Abe had nominated the U.S. leader for a Nobel Peace Prize.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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The temptation for Russia to humiliate London and Paris - by breaking any ceasefire with an attack carried out hundreds of miles away from British and French troops stuck in the capital - could prove hard to resist.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Mushrooms are a delicious addition to recipes, but preparing them for a dish can be intimidating.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Mar. 2025
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Change can be intimidating, but doing nothing is the riskiest move of all.—
Abhijit Verekar,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said Tuesday that Trump is frustrated with the Russian position but that talks continue.—
Barak Ravid,
Axios,
2 Apr. 2025
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But as Democrats search for a next generation of leadership, frustrated with the old-timers at the top, Booker’s speech could cement his status as a leading figure in the party’s opposition to Trump.—
Mike Catalini and Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Thimerosal degrades into ethylmercury, which was judged not to be a danger at the level that would come from a vaccine.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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The quality degrades a bit after the sun goes down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Miller, of course, is aware that Trump’s intention, always, is to shock, to play the madman, and thus frighten his rivals and alter the terms of the debate.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2025
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Seeing those kinds of numbers in headlines may have started to frighten U.S. consumers, data shows.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The doctor added that recovery would best continue away from the hospital, where exposure to viruses risks weakening the Holy Father's condition.—
Danielle Wallace,
Fox News,
22 Mar. 2025
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Seth Jones, president of the defense and security department of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says a trade war that punishes U.S. partners in the region threatens to weaken ties with Asian allies, possibly forcing them to reassess the reliability of U.S. security commitments.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralize. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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