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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demoralize
One person who cannot be trusted with a high degree of independence can demoralize an entire organization very quickly.
—
Dave Friend, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
So is rousing the demoralized with the example of heroes who have prevailed.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Public criticism can demoralize not only the individual, but also the whole team, whereas private feedback fosters growth, maintains dignity and strengthens trust.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Preachers are demoralized, decreed, distracted, and dissected.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Dave Friend, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
So is rousing the demoralized with the example of heroes who have prevailed.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Public criticism can demoralize not only the individual, but also the whole team, whereas private feedback fosters growth, maintains dignity and strengthens trust.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Preachers are demoralized, decreed, distracted, and dissected.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralize
Verb
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He was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died three months later.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2025
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The disturbing event all but paralyzes Kyle on the couch as the viral loathing continues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Emotional illiteracy, disconnection from the body and organizational cultures that discourage vulnerability reinforce this divide.—
Nancy Zamierowski,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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In subtropical South Florida, the days can get so hot that the rising mercury might actually discourage pollen production.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Shawn reluctantly agrees, but is humiliated when Cory starts acting corny around his friend Gambling Dan (Phil Buckman), and his lackey, Louie (Weiss).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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He must be seen standing up to foreign oppressors who seek to humiliate China and thwart its rightful rise.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And since cleaning with bleach can be intimidating (ever have a load of laundryruined thanks to leftover bleach in the washing machine?), denture tablets can be a safer, easier alternative to getting your whites back to bright.—
Amy Brightfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2025
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James, through a spokesperson, said she will not be intimidated.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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What frustrates you most about navigating love in the digital age?—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
25 Apr. 2025
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Piastri and his camp, led by steely former F1 racer Mark Webber, were frustrated with Alpine’s slow progress towards his F1 graduation.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Unlike many other archaeological sites in Sweden, where acidic soil degrades organic material, Strandvägen’s conditions have allowed organic material to survive for many years, as Gummesson tells the publication.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
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Yields usually fall when fear is dominating markets, but their surprising earlier rise stirred fears that Trump’s trade war was degrading the U.S. bond market’s status as one of the world’s safest places to keep cash.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Two years ago, several small-business owners testified to a legislative committee that Americans with Disabilities Act plaintiffs’ lawyers filed spurious complaints, alleging what appeared to be a random list of violations in an attempt to frighten and intimidate the business owner.—
Mark Hillman,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2025
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This has hallmarks of emotional abuse – non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As more state legislation is passed that weakens or eliminates longstanding fire and life safety codes, the need for young workers who are trained and passionate about reversing these trends is high.—
Jim Pauley,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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The pests set about sucking the sap from grape roots, slowly weakening them and opening wounds that invited disease.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralize. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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