demonize
Americanverb (used with object)
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demonizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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demonized,
past participle, past
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demonizing
present participle
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to misrepresent (someone or something) as thoroughly evil or contemptible; malign.
He’s grown used to demonizing his opponents, replacing their true identities and arguments with easily despised caricatures.
“There’s no reason to demonize plastic,” she said, “but I agree that it’s grossly overused.”
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to subject to the influence of demons.
verb
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to make into or like a demon
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to subject to demonic influence
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to mark out or describe as evil or culpable
the technique of demonizing the enemy in the run-up to war
Usage
What does demonize mean? To demonize something or someone is to mark or describe it as evil, as one would a demon. When something or someone is figuratively demonized like this, it is treated as undesirable or disrespectful. Being is demonized in this way often means being avoided or ignored by certain groups. Literally, to demonize is to turn something into a demon or to make it demonlike, as in The wizard spoke the spell that would transform a frog into a demon, demonizing it to create a powerful weapon. To demonize is also to subject demonic, or evil, influence, as in A mage demonized me, and now a demon torments my every waking hour. Some cultures and religions believe demons exist, while others believe they are only fictional characters. Example: The senator was so demonized for his beliefs that he could not win reelection.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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demonizesimple
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demonizessimple
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have demonizedperfect
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has demonizedperfect
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am demonizingprogressive
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are demonizingprogressive
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is demonizingprogressive
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have been demonizingperfect progressive
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has been demonizingperfect progressive
Past
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demonizedsimple
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had demonizedperfect
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was demonizingprogressive
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were demonizingprogressive
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had been demonizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of demonize
First recorded in 1815–25; from Medieval Latin daemonizāre, equivalent to Late Latin daemon demon + -izāre -ize
Explanation
To demonize someone is to characterize them as evil or wicked, whether or not they actually are. It's distressingly common in politics for one party to demonize members of the opposing party. This verb literally means "to make into a demon.” Demon means "evil spirit," so when you demonize someone, you portray them that way. This tactic shows up in propaganda and politics all the time. If you’re running for class president, don’t demonize your opponent just to get votes — instead, engage in cordial debate about the issues.
Vocabulary lists containing demonize
“How Bernard Madoff Did It” by Liaquat Ahamed
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Vocabulary from Readings 5, Unit 1
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Lesson 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“What really stands out more than any other civil rights division is how much they demonize and personalize,” said Christy Lopez, a former attorney in the division who is now a professor at Georgetown Law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
At the time of her appointment, Weiss said she and Paramount CEO David Ellison were aligned in their desire for “news that reflects reality” and journalism that “doesn’t seek to demonize, but seeks to understand.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
He also knows how to be comfortable in that space, and still find ways to humanize himself to an audience trying desperately to demonize him.
From Slate ● Feb. 28, 2026
When Paramount Skydance paid $150 million to acquire Weiss’ operation, CEO David Ellison said he wanted journalism that “reflects reality” and “doesn’t seek to demonize, but seeks to understand.”
From Salon ● Dec. 22, 2025
His choices free or fetter, elevate or debase, deify or demonize his humanity.
From Tablets by Amos Bronson Alcott
Real-estate groups said the plan unfairly demonizes their industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
The report recommends that students acknowledge their differences more openly — and urges school administrators to help them overcome black-and-white thinking that demonizes other viewpoints.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 27, 2023
Mr. Gura demonizes Tiger Woods by intimating many character flaws and foibles and his “failures as a human.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2021
He slanders and demonizes his critics and opponents, betrays his so-called friends without a moment's hesitation, feels only contempt for his worshipful supporters, and denies the existence of any objective reality.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2020
There’s also something intriguing about a play that frequently demonizes technology and its decimation of the human attention span, but whose program still encourages audience members to send out live Twitter messages during the show.
From New York Times ● Aug. 25, 2011
“A mythologized Disraeli,” Ms. Jones writes, “provided political, literary and intellectual means by which Toryism could be positioned against an increasingly demonized ‘Victorian Liberalism.’”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Heat” broke many of the rules about how art interprets the city, recoloring the metropolis and discovering beauty in many of our most demonized neighborhoods.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025
Then a few years later everyone is over the panic, the technology is normal and the next thing becomes demonized.
From Salon ● Feb. 27, 2025
What a shame that we’re at a place right now where public servants are demonized for their work.
From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2025
The North Korean government turned him into an actor who always played an evil Caucasian face in propaganda movies that demonized the United States.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
War has always been a time for propaganda, of demonizing the enemy and pumping up your side.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026
You can empathize with your friend without demonizing your own position or patronizing her by saying everything will be OK.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 2, 2026
“Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens,” the NRA retorted, to Essayli.
From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2026
“Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens,” the association said in a statement on X.
From Salon ● Jan. 26, 2026
“Why are we demonizing this man for speaking his mind?”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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