demoralize

verb

de·mor·al·ize | \ di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz

, ˌdē-, -ˈmär-\

demoralized; demoralizing; demoralizes

Definition of demoralize

transitive verb

1 : to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : to corrupt the morals of

2a : 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

c : to throw into disorder

Other Words from demoralize Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about demoralize

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Other Words from demoralize

demoralization \ di-ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən

, ˌdē- , -ˌmär- \ noun

demoralizer \ di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər

, ˌdē- , -ˈmär- \ noun

demoralizingly \ di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-ziŋ-lē

, ˌdē- , -ˈmär- \ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for demoralize

Synonyms

emasculate, paralyze, undo, unman, unnerve, unstring

Antonyms

nerve

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

Kauffmann gave way to sophomore righty Jeff Criswell, who made easy work of the demoralized Red Raiders in the final three innings. — Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan baseball's stunning journey hits final stage: On brink of championship," 21 June 2019 Does Facebook know how to change its newsfeed algorithm to demoralize one set of voters and motivate another? — Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, "The Move to Reclaim Privacy," 18 June 2019 Leaderless, weakened, and demoralized, the RUF began to retreat. — Janine Di Giovanni, The New York Review of Books, "Sierra Leone, 2000: A Case History in Successful Interventionism," 7 June 2019 After a series of internal investigations and journalistic exposes, both denominations are reeling from scandals that have stained their reputations and demoralized the faithful. — Daniel Burke, CNN, "Why the nation's two largest religious groups are talking about sex abuse this week," 10 June 2019 The company behind Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price had been in tumult for years, as declining toy sales and the loss of key licenses devastated its share price and demoralized its workforce. — Paul Ziobro, WSJ, "Barbie, Hot Wheels Go to Hollywood in Mattel CEO’s Turnaround Plan," 17 Apr. 2019 The lesson for Brennan’s generation of C.I.A. officers was a demoralizing one — that serving the president could sometimes mean acting as political cannon fodder when things went wrong. — Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, "A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows," 27 June 2018 When Thomas was later confirmed to the Supreme Court, the countless women who’d watched Hill—and maybe Hill herself—were demoralized, flattened even. — Celeste Ng, Glamour, "Celeste Ng Reflects on Our Era of Rage—and Illuminates the Path Forward.," 21 Dec. 2018 Republican leaders want Kavanaugh confirmed at almost any costs, fearful that pulling his nomination would demoralize their voters ahead of the midterms. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh is Jeff Flake’s most important test," 3 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'demoralize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.