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
Many Chicagoans still harbor deep distrust of the police, while the city’s officers are demoralized and fearful about what awaits them on streets where bad actors have no fear of law enforcement.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
There, the demoralizing displays of dysfunction occur more often behind closed doors, and not in full public view.
—Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Discovery Ready to Offer Batman, Harry Potter, 'Friends' as Figures for Ads
The titular girl is Jiang Ning (Zhang Zifeng) a fiercely competitive skater who’s been going through a demoralizing period in her training.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 May 2025
Their reality has been shredded; they are literally demoralized, with the exception of one man, Pabst’s assistant, a scrupulous fellow who goes mad with dismay.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
There, the demoralizing displays of dysfunction occur more often behind closed doors, and not in full public view.
—Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Discovery Ready to Offer Batman, Harry Potter, 'Friends' as Figures for Ads
The titular girl is Jiang Ning (Zhang Zifeng) a fiercely competitive skater who’s been going through a demoralizing period in her training.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 May 2025
Their reality has been shredded; they are literally demoralized, with the exception of one man, Pabst’s assistant, a scrupulous fellow who goes mad with dismay.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 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 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share