1
as in paralyzing
to deprive of courage or confidence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frustrating
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 degrading
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
as in discouraging
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Recent Examples of demoralizing
Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Watching what’s unfolding around us can be demoralizing.
—Stacey Abrams, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Those are the kinds of demoralizing stats that break Hern’s heart.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Kyle Schwarber unwrapped tape from his forearms after the latest setback, a demoralizing 6-5 defeat to the New York Mets.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the upcoming season with title aspirations after suffering a demoralizing series loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, after earning the first seed.
—Gavin Groe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The demoralizing blowout was tough to take for Seminole.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
The back-and-forth over grant cancellations has been especially demoralizing.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
To have all that flipped on its side, turned around 180 degrees and made to seem dark and sinister, that's very demoralizing and heartbreaking.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Watching what’s unfolding around us can be demoralizing.
—Stacey Abrams, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Those are the kinds of demoralizing stats that break Hern’s heart.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Kyle Schwarber unwrapped tape from his forearms after the latest setback, a demoralizing 6-5 defeat to the New York Mets.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the upcoming season with title aspirations after suffering a demoralizing series loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, after earning the first seed.
—Gavin Groe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The demoralizing blowout was tough to take for Seminole.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
The back-and-forth over grant cancellations has been especially demoralizing.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralizing
Verb
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Doctors spent several minutes resuscitating Luka before making the difficult decision to use a paralyzing agent to stop him from moving and potentially hurting himself.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Without these supports, free-will can feel utterly paralyzing.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As far as Young goes, the Week 1 performance was discouraging.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Speaker Johnson is giving the high ground to the Democrats by discouraging Thomas Massie's petition.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Mono County, which was issued by NWS Reno, the advisory warned that dense smoke was reducing visibility to 1 mile or less and also degrading air quality.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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Design for Choice, Not Chaos Present customers with multiple options, from digital wallets to local payment rails, without degrading user experience.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Seeing that textbook go to waste felt very disheartening.—
Sami Khan,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This announcement, humiliating the involved member, is harmful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For some—for me—the experience of certain kinds of anxiety has a disconcerting synesthetic quality.—
Scott Stossel,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
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The disconcerting answer is that nobody knows.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There’s calm aura (Jayden Daniels), confident aura (Joe Burrow) and intimidating aura (Maxx Crosby).—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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Romero added that the calls were particularly intimidating at this raw time of heightened political tension and rhetoric.—
Sasha Pezenik,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demoralizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralizing. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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