demoralize

verb

de·​mor·​al·​ize di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce demoralize (audio)
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 marketF. D. Roosevelt
c
: to throw into disorder
demoralization noun
demoralizer
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər How to pronounce demoralize (audio)
ˌdē-
-ˈmär-
noun
demoralizingly adverb

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 Noon Against Putin protest was designed not only to denounce an election widely condemned as neither free nor fair, but also to demonstrate support for the fragmented, often demoralized critics of Putin and the war, many of whom are now living in exile. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Like Chantal Mouffe, a theorist of leftist populism and a friend of Mélenchon’s, Mélenchon believes that voters have become demoralized by a technocratic neoliberal consensus: the primacy of markets and social values that favor individualism over the collective good. Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The attacks have demoralized an already weak police force, said Esperance, noting that rank-and-file officers have abandoned some posts and are no longer taking orders from superiors. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Such an extravagant release of methane gas from a single well that lasted six months is a demoralizing event. Ian Palmer, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Losing games because of free throw shooting is one of the more demoralizing ways to go down. Zion Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2024 The 12-play, 93-yard also chewed up 7:03 of the clock and demoralized a Texans team that had, until then, given the Ravens fits. Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024 After the Heat’s losing streak stretched to seven games (its longest since 2008) with a demoralizing defeat to the Phoenix Suns, the Heat summoned its player to Kaseya Center on a dreary Tuesday late last month. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2024 As the parallel offensives gained momentum, the junta witnessed some demoralizing defeats. Aakash Hassan, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demoralize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of demoralize was circa 1793

Dictionary Entries Near demoralize

Cite this Entry

“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

demoralize

verb
de·​mor·​al·​ize di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce demoralize (audio)
-ˈmär-
1
: to make bad or evil
2
: to weaken in spirit or discipline
fear demoralized the army
demoralization noun
demoralizer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on demoralize

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