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
Lee will also have to find a way to heal his riven nation, whose people are utterly demoralized with bickering, partisanship, and a pathological inability to find consensus on any issue.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
But in places like Egypt and Russia, where civic forces are demoralized or divided, oligarchs can hang on with daunting endurance.
—Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The Pacers will look to take a strong 2-0 lead, while the Knicks will try to pick up the pieces from such a demoralizing loss.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Inter Miami has lost four of its past five games with the most recent being a demoralizing 4-1 loss at Minnesota.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
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Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
But in places like Egypt and Russia, where civic forces are demoralized or divided, oligarchs can hang on with daunting endurance.
—Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The Pacers will look to take a strong 2-0 lead, while the Knicks will try to pick up the pieces from such a demoralizing loss.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Inter Miami has lost four of its past five games with the most recent being a demoralizing 4-1 loss at Minnesota.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 14 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 10 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
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