demonization

[ dee-muh-nahy-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or fact of regarding, treating, or speaking of a person or thing as entirely bad:

   These bitter people carry on a systematic, unremitting demonization of the government, blaming it for whatever ails the economy.

2. the act or fact of subjecting a person or thing to the influence of evil spirits; possession or oppression by a demon:

   The effects of curses and occult rituals often involve demonization, and need to be revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of demonization¹

demoniz(e) ( def ) + -ation ( def )

Example Sentences

He repeatedly demonized liberals and pushed GOP politicians further to the right on issues such as immigration, government spending and climate change.

From FiveThirtyEight

As long as Dry January has existed, it has been mocked and criticized as a virtue-signaling gimmick that simply demonizes alcohol.

From Popular-Science

Still, it’s common to demonize certain carbs or fats, even if you aren’t on a particular diet.

From Outside Online

And, somehow, “Democrats” were out to demonize Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s faith because there was chatter on Twitter, even though no Democrat in the Senate raised it during her confirmation hearings.

From Washington Post

I think that conservatives are so tired of being demonized and so demonized and battered and shamed by the mainstream media and the Democrats.

From Ozy

But there is a messy middle territory between demonization and idealization.

From The Daily Beast

But hey, why let facts get in the way of good ole demonization of a minority group for political gain?!

From The Daily Beast

Western readers, he complains, have been subject to a “relentless demonization of Putin, with little regard for facts.”

From The Daily Beast

“The demonization of black people in popular working-class culture is one way to work through anxieties about class,” Guterl said.

From The Daily Beast

The reasons for the widespread suppression of the official Palestinian demonization of Jews and Israel are easily discernible.

From The Daily Beast

Unreflected celebration of technocracy as the sole agent of change must be treated with the same suspicion as its demonization.

From Project Gutenberg