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
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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
Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, McC, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Many Chicagoans still harbor deep distrust of the police, while the city’s officers are demoralized and fearful about what awaits them on streets where bad actors have no fear of law enforcement.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
There, the demoralizing displays of dysfunction occur more often behind closed doors, and not in full public view.
—Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Discovery Ready to Offer Batman, Harry Potter, 'Friends' as Figures for Ads
The titular girl is Jiang Ning (Zhang Zifeng) a fiercely competitive skater who’s been going through a demoralizing period in her training.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralization
Verb
This is frustrating and demoralizing for the person in that role.
—Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, McC, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Many Chicagoans still harbor deep distrust of the police, while the city’s officers are demoralized and fearful about what awaits them on streets where bad actors have no fear of law enforcement.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
There, the demoralizing displays of dysfunction occur more often behind closed doors, and not in full public view.
—Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Discovery Ready to Offer Batman, Harry Potter, 'Friends' as Figures for Ads
The titular girl is Jiang Ning (Zhang Zifeng) a fiercely competitive skater who’s been going through a demoralizing period in her training.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralization
Noun
-
In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that projected coral reef degradation in Florida could increase the coastal flood risk to more than 7,300 people at the cost of $823.6 million annually.—
Rafe Pomerance,
Sun Sentinel,
6 July 2025
-
The administration cited the degradation of the current FBI complex as a reason for the move.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
This is the despair of wrestlers: unredeemed perspiration, useless bruises.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
-
For the most part, professors were, yes, in despair.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
Trump deserves credit for ignoring the voices in Washington who counsel inaction out of an understandable but often paralyzing fear of unintended consequences.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
-
To all who saw Iran as a behemoth, were daunted by its deterrence and paralyzed by its threats, these are days of reckoning.—
HUSSEIN AGHA,
Foreign Affairs,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Bailey made headlines leading up to the draft by reportedly discouraging Philadelphia from selecting him, and even attempted to do the same with Utah.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
-
President Snow, facing growing unrest across the nation as a result of the pair’s joint victory, demands that Katniss and Peeta pretend to be in love during their Victory Tour to discourage any rebellions.—
Kelly Martinez Published,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
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Then two of his classmates did something magical. 'And I was humiliated again' The story Griffin started to tell began in first grade just after his family moved from one part of his suburban New York town to another, and Griffin was the new kid in school.—
Brad Schmitt,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
Why risk thousands of dollars to be humiliated and possibly denied entry?—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Ken Paxton, who has served in his current role since 2015, was impeached in 2023 but later acquitted and faced allegations of corruption and taking part in an extramarital affair.—
Julia Manchester,
The Hill,
11 July 2025
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The announcement comes nearly two years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of corruption and abuse of office.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Bayern forward Harry Kane was on his knees, checking on Musiala’s well-being, as was captain Joshua Kimmich, who took one look at his young team-mate’s left leg and turned away in apparent dismay.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
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The legislation also has a large-scale rollback of clean-energy initiatives, to the dismay of everyone from climate activists to Elon Musk.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
But moving from being a casual fan into understanding the intricacies of tennis can be intimidating.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Her confidence is assertive but with no intention to intimidate.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demoralization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralization. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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