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
The whiplash shifts in a largely siloed organization demoralized and infuriated employees.
—Kenrick Cai, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
It was not demoralized, incompetent, or ill-equipped.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024
Michael Badgley eventually kicks a 21-yard field goal for a 24-7 lead, which is less demoralizing heading to the half than 28-7.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
That included a demoralizing 6-1 home loss against Club Brugge before the Christmas break.
—Samuel Petrequin, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
That changed in demoralizing fashion here Thursday night.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024
The Noon Against Putin protest was designed not only to denounce an election widely condemned as neither free nor fair, but also to demonstrate support for the fragmented, often demoralized critics of Putin and the war, many of whom are now living in exile.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
Like Chantal Mouffe, a theorist of leftist populism and a friend of Mélenchon’s, Mélenchon believes that voters have become demoralized by a technocratic neoliberal consensus: the primacy of markets and social values that favor individualism over the collective good.
—Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
The attacks have demoralized an already weak police force, said Esperance, noting that rank-and-file officers have abandoned some posts and are no longer taking orders from superiors.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
Kenrick Cai, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
It was not demoralized, incompetent, or ill-equipped.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024
Michael Badgley eventually kicks a 21-yard field goal for a 24-7 lead, which is less demoralizing heading to the half than 28-7.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
That included a demoralizing 6-1 home loss against Club Brugge before the Christmas break.
—Samuel Petrequin, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
That changed in demoralizing fashion here Thursday night.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024
The Noon Against Putin protest was designed not only to denounce an election widely condemned as neither free nor fair, but also to demonstrate support for the fragmented, often demoralized critics of Putin and the war, many of whom are now living in exile.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
Like Chantal Mouffe, a theorist of leftist populism and a friend of Mélenchon’s, Mélenchon believes that voters have become demoralized by a technocratic neoliberal consensus: the primacy of markets and social values that favor individualism over the collective good.
—Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
The attacks have demoralized an already weak police force, said Esperance, noting that rank-and-file officers have abandoned some posts and are no longer taking orders from superiors.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demoralize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near demoralize
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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