as in degraded
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
a demoralized nation that had forgotten the values that once made it great
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in paralyzed
to deprive of courage or confidence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discouraged
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
3
as in humiliated
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 demoralized
Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
The Democratic Party has funneled all the fury of its demoralized and humiliated voter base into a focal point centered on immigration policy.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2026
Iraqi units were so demoralized and disorganized that, in one now-famous incident, a group of soldiers surrendered to an unmanned Pioneer drone.
—David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
There’s sort of a demoralized aura around the program these days.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
But a new study has found that such workplace jargon may be doing more harm than good—making employees feel confused, demoralized and less likely to collaborate with their coworkers.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The octogenarian trying to reach a new generation of voters amid a demoralized Democratic Party is a stark juxtaposition.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
But in qualifying, that’s another matter, and watching the cars lifting and coasting through the 130R corner at Suzuka in Japan was something that demoralized virtually every race fan this author knows.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
Colorado played efficiently and, unlike two weeks prior, was rewarded rather than demoralized.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
Though my teammates were dehydrated and slightly red in the summer heat, they were not demoralized.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
My uncle taught me to keep some distance, and not to listen too much to the outside voices to avoid being demoralized.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Today everyday Texans are feeling stressed about the economy, demoralized by an administration that is trampling on our constitution, and fearful that our government is broken beyond repair.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
But he was especially demoralized the other day after scouring for bargains at the sprawling Coche Market, which serves a mostly working-class clientele on the southern fringes of this chaotic capital.
—Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Just as the 1905 defeat demoralized the military, the withdrawal of Soviet Army forces in 1989 also demoralized the military, and the war eroded public trust.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Despite being outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Washington maintained order among his demoralized troops.
—Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
The Democratic Party has funneled all the fury of its demoralized and humiliated voter base into a focal point centered on immigration policy.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2026
Iraqi units were so demoralized and disorganized that, in one now-famous incident, a group of soldiers surrendered to an unmanned Pioneer drone.
—David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
There’s sort of a demoralized aura around the program these days.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
But a new study has found that such workplace jargon may be doing more harm than good—making employees feel confused, demoralized and less likely to collaborate with their coworkers.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The octogenarian trying to reach a new generation of voters amid a demoralized Democratic Party is a stark juxtaposition.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
After the Knicks had already demoralized the Sixers three times too many, there was still time on the clock for one more haymaker, one more seismic punch to put Philadelphia, already on the ropes far sooner than its fan base had anticipated, out for good.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
But in qualifying, that’s another matter, and watching the cars lifting and coasting through the 130R corner at Suzuka in Japan was something that demoralized virtually every race fan this author knows.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
Colorado played efficiently and, unlike two weeks prior, was rewarded rather than demoralized.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
Though my teammates were dehydrated and slightly red in the summer heat, they were not demoralized.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
My uncle taught me to keep some distance, and not to listen too much to the outside voices to avoid being demoralized.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Today everyday Texans are feeling stressed about the economy, demoralized by an administration that is trampling on our constitution, and fearful that our government is broken beyond repair.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
But he was especially demoralized the other day after scouring for bargains at the sprawling Coche Market, which serves a mostly working-class clientele on the southern fringes of this chaotic capital.
—Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Just as the 1905 defeat demoralized the military, the withdrawal of Soviet Army forces in 1989 also demoralized the military, and the war eroded public trust.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralized
Adjective
-
Poor financial decisions have led to bad housing policy and degraded services.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
The Teamsters warned a degraded zoo experience would await visitors who crossed the picket line, suggesting that certain programs such as dolphin shows would be canceled due to the strike.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
April 21, 1976, when Porter was paralyzed after fracturing his neck in a collision during spring practice.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Thousands of North American schools and universities were paralyzed Thursday after a ransomware attack on a key educational software provider.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
While renting a car might seem tempting, it is generally discouraged for tourists; Boston’s historical street layout is notoriously confusing, and parking is expensive and difficult to find.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
-
However, if a few detours take you off course, don’t be discouraged.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Those who don’t get the job leave diminished, sometimes humiliated, and the institution absorbs the damage quietly for years.—
Paul Hardart,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
Blue is officially fired for injecting a patient with an unapproved drug, and in a devastating twist, he is humiliated by and forced to give his badge back to Richard in front of Catherine (Debbie Allen).—
Max Gao,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Well remember, there’s a corrupt shadow hanging over the Supreme Court.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
-
Voicer Chris Lee conjures a hypothetically corrupt fire inspection system to oppose battery storage.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The Lord in your convent frightened me, Jesus with his bloody palms and gaping mouth, eyes rolled back in terror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Galvin was frustrated with the police, and ultimately hired their own private investigor and created a Justice for Kianna social media page.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Stone has grown increasingly frustrated by the delays.—
Rebekah F. Ward,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
People who have weakened immune systems and who experienced intense pain during an initial outbreak are also more susceptible to getting shingles a second (or even third) time.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
7 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the institutional guardrails have been weakened.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demoralized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralized. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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