demoralize

verb

de·​mor·​al·​ize di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 

ˌdē-, 

-ˈmär-

demoralized; demoralizing; demoralizes

transitive verb

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.

—Franklin D. Roosevelt

c

: to throw into disorder

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 of demoralize

• paralyze
• intimidate
• frighten
• terrify
• scare

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

There was concern that demoralized and impoverished Europeans—artists and intellectuals especially—would be drawn to the blandishments of the Soviet Union. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Nelson, demoralized by the trade, missed nine games that season due to illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Nelson, demoralized by the trade, missed nine games that season because of illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995. — John Raby, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Sanders works as a counselor in Tucson, Arizona, and lately, the toxicity he’s been hearing has demoralized him. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for demoralize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids 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

demoralization

-ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌmär-

noun

demoralizer

-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

-ˈmär-

noun