demonize
verb
de·mon·ize
ˈdē-mə-ˌnīz 
demonized; demonizing; demonizes
: to portray (someone or something) as evil or as worthy of contempt or blame : vilify
Unlike previous generations, they have grown up with technology. They don't expect it to bring about utopia, nor do they demonize it.—
Katie Hafner
Katie HafnerThe point is not to demonize business leaders. Their reasons for not hiring make eminent sense, given the incentives of the marketplace and the imperative to remain competitive.—Zachary Karabell
Zachary KarabellViolence in the media has become the whipping boy of choice in these hypocritical times. It's easier to demonize a movie screen than to deal with the thorny issues of crime, racism, drugs, poverty and gun control.—Peter Travers
Peter TraversFor those who would forge a new environmental ethic, there is a constant temptation to demonize technology and deify nature.—Gina Maranto
Gina Maranto
demonization
noun
plural demonizations
In the Washington of Clinton and Gingrich, Dole and Buchanan, … the demonization of one's political foes has reached an epic frenzy.
—Stryker McGuire and David Ansen
Stryker McGuire and David Ansen
Examples of demonize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The cold-blooded creatures, repped primarily by a snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan) who’s smuggled in from abroad via a shipping container, are vaguely coded as immigrants and have a history of being demonized by the rapacious rich.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
The story picks up with Erivo’s Elphaba having become demonized by Oz after turning against the Wizard (Goldblum) due to his lies and cruelty toward animals.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025
Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
While Cynthia Erivo’s green witch Elphaba was demonized as evil and hunted like an animal that deserved to die.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 Nov. 2025
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Alison Willmore, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
The story picks up with Erivo’s Elphaba having become demonized by Oz after turning against the Wizard (Goldblum) due to his lies and cruelty toward animals.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025
Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
While Cynthia Erivo’s green witch Elphaba was demonized as evil and hunted like an animal that deserved to die.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demonize
Cite this Entry
“Demonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demonize. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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