Synonyms of demoralizing

demoralizing 1 of 2

adjective

as in discouraging

Related Words

• discouraging
• disheartening
• disconcerting
• dismaying
• daunting
• dispiriting
• troublesome
• troubling
• upsetting
• distressing
• unsettling
• disturbing
• disquieting
• worrisome
• discomfiting
• frightening
• perturbing
• nagging
• discomforting
• troublous
• chilling
• scary
• discomposing
• alarming
• terrifying
• nasty
• horrifying
• shocking
• terrible
• dread
• persecutory
• horrible
• fearful
• harassing
• dreadful
• formidable
• ghastly
• horrendous
• dire
• forbidding
• intimidating
• frightful
• fearsome
• persecutive
• direful
• hair-raising

Dissimilar Words

• reassuring
• settling
• soothing
• calming
• comforting
• relaxing
• narcotic
• dreamy
• sedative
• inviting
• quieting
• tranquilizing
• consoling
• pacifying
• lulling

demoralizing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of demoralize

1

as in paralyzing

to deprive of courage or confidence

the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paralyzing
• frightening
• intimidating
• terrifying
• scaring
• emasculating
• unnerving
• unsettling
• undoing
• debilitating
• discouraging
• wasting
• unmanning
• enervating
• weakening
• disheartening
• disturbing
• sapping
• upsetting
• enfeebling
• tiring
• unstringing
• dispiriting
• terrorizing
• softening
• daunting
• neutering
• dismaying
• maddening
• disquieting
• perturbing
• unbalancing
• prostrating
• unhinging
• deranging
• psyching (out)
• crazing
• fazing
• discomposing
• weirding out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthening
• fortifying
• encouraging
• nerving
• emboldening
• heartening

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

• discouraging
• frustrating
• disheartening
• daunting
• intimidating
• dispiriting
• frightening
• unnerving
• horrifying
• dismaying
• scaring
• troubling
• chilling
• afflicting
• worrying
• distressing
• unmanning
• bothering
• bullying
• throwing cold water on
• depressing
• weighing
• trying
• saddening
• browbeating
• debilitating
• undermining
• deadening
• cowing
• weakening
• vexing
• dampening
• enfeebling
• damping
• irking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraging
• cheering
• reinforcing
• invigorating
• enforcing
• emboldening
• enlivening
• nerving
• heartening
• strengthening
• animating
• reassuring
• exciting
• assuring
• steeling
• stimulating
• fortifying
• gladdening
• stirring
• energizing
• inspiring
• lifting
• provoking
• galvanizing
• buoying (up)
• rallying
• boosting
• quickening

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• degrading
• humiliating
• deteriorating
• corrupting
• weakening
• damaging
• demeaning
• poisoning
• debasing
• subverting
• debauching
• diluting
• destroying
• perverting
• depraving
• ruining
• disgracing
• lessening
• vitiating
• polluting
• prostituting
• marring
• humbling
• cankering
• cheapening
• shaming
• warping
• bastardizing
• tainting
• hurting
• contaminating
• profaning
• abasing
• impairing
• thinning
• wrecking
• harming
• dishonoring
• defiling
• dirtying
• spoiling
• tarnishing
• descending
• staining
• watering down
• befouling
• defacing
• downgrading
• depreciating
• begriming
• flawing
• taking down
• blemishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uplifting
• improving
• elevating
• honoring
• ennobling
• exalting
• enriching
• enhancing
• ameliorating
• amending
• dignifying
• perfecting
• cleaning
• restoring
• clarifying
• cleansing
• purifying
• bettering
• refining
• respecting
• meliorating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of demoralizing

Adjective

To be ensconced within a reading cohort is bliss, and falling off the cart can be demoralizing. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

That can sound empowering or demoralizing, depending on your perception of AI and ability to master it. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Moral deformity can be as demoralizing and debilitating as a physical one – perhaps more so. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Sep. 2026

Zibanejad was a deserving team MVP in an otherwise demoralizing 2025-26 campaign, posting his highest totals in three years for goals (34) and points (78). — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Suddenly, in this most demoralizing scenario, USC is out of the Playoff picture at the halfway point of the season. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

On top of all that, having to say this again and again is demoralizing. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

The Lions would go on to suffer a demoralizing 4-1 loss to Germany that same year in a round of 16 match staged at an altitude of 4,600 feet. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 July 2026

The early goal from Germany was a bit demoralizing for the South American team, but Nilson Angulo was able to shake it off with a beautiful shot in the ninth minute to equalize. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026

Verb

Those included command staff berating officers behind closed doors, threatening discipline if officers discussed those conversations and trainers demoralizing recruits, according to the lawsuit. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

New England lost in demoralizing fashion to the Seahawks last February, 29-13, as the Seattle defense manhandled the Patriots’ offense. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

The killing is the latest act which Polish authorities believe could be part of a campaign of Russian sabotage aimed at sowing fear and demoralizing Ukraine’s closest allies. — Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

But watching most of the progress reverse is demoralizing enough to feel like failure. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026

The San Antonio Spurs had just lost Game 3 of the Western Conference finals in demoralizing fashion. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 8 June 2026

The effort to remove Ramos, who was born in Honduras, has drawn backlash from military family advocates, who called the detention demoralizing in a time of war and warned that deporting spouses could undermine recruitment. — CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

The effort to remove the soldier's wife, who was born in Honduras and remained in a federal immigration detention center Monday, has drawn backlash from military family advocates who called the detention demoralizing in a time of war and warned that deporting spouses could undermine recruitment. — Jack Brook, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026

Annual ritual causes anxiety Many have called the annual ritual disruptive to schools and demoralizing to the employees who receive them. — Edsource, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026