demonize
[dee-muh-nahyz]
- to turn into a demon or make demonlike.
- to subject to the influence of demons.
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Also especially British, de·mon·ise.
Origin of demonize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for demonize
Contemporary Examples
Some historians say that the Christian church gave Satan horns to demonize the Wiccan faith.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. ConsumerismDina Goldstein
November 8, 2014
The proponents of these laws will demonize Muslims while making the case for these measures.
It possesses the power to both humanize and demonize minority groups.
Democrats have certainly done their fair share of utilizing the race card in the Obama era to demonize their political opponents.
You demonize the evil genius and you make the president look weak.
Historical Examples
His choices free or fetter, elevate or debase, deify or demonize his humanity.
TabletsAmos Bronson Alcott
The tendency to sentimentalize nature has, in our time, largely taken the place of the old tendency to demonize and spiritize it.
Ways of NatureJohn Burroughs
demonize
demonise
- to make into or like a demon
- to subject to demonic influence
- to mark out or describe as evil or culpablethe technique of demonizing the enemy in the run-up to war
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for demonize
v.
1821, "to make into a demon" (literally or figuratively), from Medieval Latin daemonizare, from Latin daemon (see demon). Greek daimonizesthai meant "to be possessed by a demon." Related: Demonized; demonizing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper