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
And so is the season, really, if that doesn’t somehow change soon … and they’re left staring at the demoralizing prospect of being sellers rather than buyers at the July 31 trade deadline.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
The Mets’ malaise stretched into a second straight series sweep, this time a more demoralizing one to the division rival Atlanta Braves.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Coen predicted Richardson's address would further demoralize the staff.
—Leah Douglas, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Crime rates had been rising exponentially since the 1960s; now, with the NYPD diminished and demoralized, untold numbers of assaults, robberies, and property crimes went unreported, while open-air drug markets operated with relative impunity in many parts of the city.
—Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
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Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
The Mets’ malaise stretched into a second straight series sweep, this time a more demoralizing one to the division rival Atlanta Braves.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Coen predicted Richardson's address would further demoralize the staff.
—Leah Douglas, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Crime rates had been rising exponentially since the 1960s; now, with the NYPD diminished and demoralized, untold numbers of assaults, robberies, and property crimes went unreported, while open-air drug markets operated with relative impunity in many parts of the city.
—Rolling Stone, 16 June 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 21 Jul. 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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