DEMORALIZE Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

demoralize

verb

di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz

Definition of demoralize

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of demoralize This demoralized his troops, who promptly fled or surrendered. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 Those have avoided injuries to key players that can demoralize a team and affect a season. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for demoralize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralize

Verb

White did hesitate at the prospect of playing another real-life figure so soon after his intimidating portrayal of Bruce Springsteen in Scott Cooper’s underappreciated gem, Deliver Me from Nowhere.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Especially to the book-curious, who may feel intimidated stepping into a store.

— John Wenzel, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimidate

Verb

According to Vinatieri, Democrats are discouraged by Shapiro’s changing data center stance.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
The question the hosts were debating, by pointing to a specific subset of one immigrant group, was precisely how incompatible Indian Americans were with American culture, and by what degree Indian immigration should be discouraged.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of discourage

Verb

This caution is surprising in a writer who has elsewhere been fearless about identity and America, attentive to the country’s institutional capacity to humiliate, compromise, and implicate the people who claim it.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
But the Saudis, humiliated by their losses in Yemen, seem likely to lash out.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

But the more productive expansion has to do with character, especially as regards Carrie and her mother, who is not the deranged, abusive religious fanatic of previous versions, but an essentially loving parent frightened of the modern world.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
The stranger’s hollow cheeks, his dark eyes, whose lashes always appeared wet, the bony shoulders that protruded from the singlet Chee Meng had lent him—all of it frightened Shawn.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of frighten

Verb

For the second time in as many Big 12 games, Kansas’ football team played well enough to frustrate the opposition but not well enough to win.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
The official said that Rubio had grown increasingly frustrated as the reports multiplied.

— Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrate

Verb

As a side benefit, because only the tread is in contact with the road, the rest of the tire could be made of non-traditional polymers that don't degrade into tiny particles under force of friction.

— Ben Coxworth October 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Local farms face ever degrading soil conditions, tougher markets and more extreme weather patterns.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

Once Isaias comes ashore, it is expected to weaken until it is downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane center said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Last but certainly not least, there’s the focus on communicating local relevancy as a differentiator without weakening brand equity and DNA.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

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demoralization

demoralize

demoralized

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Style

“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralize. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of demoralize

verb

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