demoralize
verb
de·mor·al·ize
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 
ˌdē-,
-ˈmär-
demoralized; demoralizing; demoralizes
1
: to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : to corrupt the morals of
2
a
: to weaken the morale of : discourage, dispirit
were demoralized by the loss
b
: to upset or destroy the normal functioning of
foreclosures were further demoralizing an already desperate real-estate market—
F. D. Roosevelt
F. D. Roosevelt
c
: to throw into disorder
Examples of demoralize in a Sentence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week
Recent Examples on the Web
And inside the Department of State, morale has plummeted, with professionals once proud to serve now demoralized, distrusted or displaced.
—Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Winfrey shared the demoralizing experience in her 2017 cookbook, Food, Health, and Happiness.
—Avalon Hester, People.com, 13 July 2025
Organizations that fail to integrate AI solutions with their existing ITSM platforms may delay or derail their deployment efforts, ultimately demoralizing their teams.
—Ernest Toh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Messi and his teammates trudged off the field into the locker room, looking as demoralized as their fans.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
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Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Winfrey shared the demoralizing experience in her 2017 cookbook, Food, Health, and Happiness.
—Avalon Hester, People.com, 13 July 2025
Organizations that fail to integrate AI solutions with their existing ITSM platforms may delay or derail their deployment efforts, ultimately demoralizing their teams.
—Ernest Toh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Messi and his teammates trudged off the field into the locker room, looking as demoralized as their fans.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
demoralize
verb
de·mor·al·ize
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz
-ˈmär-
1
: to make bad or evil
2
: to weaken in spirit or discipline
fear demoralized the army
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