1
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
a general state of demoralization prevailed at every level of the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
the officers struggled to combat the demoralization of the troops as their tour of duty grew longer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to paralyze
to deprive of courage or confidence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
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2
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week
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3
as in to humiliate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
felt society as a whole has been demoralized by the widespread availability of pornography
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demoralization
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
The melancholy truth is that things have sunk into a morass of demoralization and low standards, with journalism inhabiting the poverty sector among the disciplines, and this at a time when communications nationally and internationally have reached an apex of urgency and complexity.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Edsource, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Creating uncertainty in Iran’s military should help demoralize officers and inspire defections.
—Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demoralization
Noun
Nothing could quite match that, but Michigan’s 90-73 demoralization of Arizona got close.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
The melancholy truth is that things have sunk into a morass of demoralization and low standards, with journalism inhabiting the poverty sector among the disciplines, and this at a time when communications nationally and internationally have reached an apex of urgency and complexity.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Annual ritual causes anxiety Many have called the annual ritual disruptive to schools and demoralizing to the employees who receive them.
—Edsource, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Creating uncertainty in Iran’s military should help demoralize officers and inspire defections.
—Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demoralization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralization
Noun
-
Its habitat is being affected by climate change and fires started by farmers clearing land, which are contributing to ecosystem degradation in the region.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Its habitat is being affected by climate change and fires started by farmers clearing land, both of which are contributing to ecosystem degradation in the region.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
April, a season of hope for many, was always a month of despair for them.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Nastiness can be framed as a function of mourning a loved one, as with Dorinda’s rants on RHONY; or despair over personal crises, as with RHOC star Shannon Beador’s DUI and car crash.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Williams was paralyzed in the crash.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Inky Johnson left college football due to an injury that paralyzed his right arm.—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The income that a proficiency with needle and thread commands relative to the skills needed and the physical toll of bending over detailed work for hours likely discourages teenagers and young adults from heeding Bae’s advice, fashion industry experts said.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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In 2019, the odds for the three worst teams were flattened, as a way to discourage teams from racing to the bottom.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Rockies have been humiliated before in their first home game, but never as badly as this.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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The leadership of the country that has threatened the stability and prosperity of the world will eventually be ousted, disempowered and humiliated.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Forty-seven years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally end.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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Though Guelleh has presided over economic growth during his time as president, economic benefits have not fully trickled down, and much of the population remains mired in poverty; this economic inequality is due in part to corruption and patronage.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Much to the dismay of White Sox fans, the team’s home opener was delayed Thursday, with the game postponed a day due to the aforementioned weather.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Speaking to the Star-Telegram, Ledet expressed dismay at how her son’s case has been handled from the beginning.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Forney girls soccer team is filled with underclassmen, but the young Jackrabbits were not at all intimidated by Southlake Carroll and its deep tradition.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
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At the Greeley plant, union officials said the company tried to intimidate workers to quit the union in one-on-one meetings, union general counsel Matt Shechter said.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demoralization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralization. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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