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
But Sigman clarified that the point isn’t to punish or demoralize players.
—Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
The Franco-Prussian war was a humiliating, demoralizing affair for the French, ending the nation’s power over continental Europe.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Two weeks to put a demoralizing 2023-24 season behind him.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Liberal groups for weeks have organized anti-Tesla protests in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Trump’s November victory.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 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.
Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
The Franco-Prussian war was a humiliating, demoralizing affair for the French, ending the nation’s power over continental Europe.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Two weeks to put a demoralizing 2023-24 season behind him.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Liberal groups for weeks have organized anti-Tesla protests in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Trump’s November victory.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 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 2 May. 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