demonize

American  

[dee-muh-nahyz] / ˈdi məˌnaɪz /

especially British, demonise

verb (used with object)

demonized, demonizing

1. 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.”

2. to subject to the influence of demons.

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demonize British  

/ ˈdiːməˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to make into or like a demon

2. to subject to demonic influence

3. to mark out or describe as evil or culpable

   the technique of demonizing the enemy in the run-up to war

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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

• demonization noun

Etymology

Origin of demonize

First recorded in 1815–25; from Medieval Latin daemonizāre, equivalent to Late Latin daemon demon + -izāre -ize

Example Sentences

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

At the time of her appointment, Ellison said he tapped Weiss to bring to CBS “news that reflects reality” and journalism that “doesn’t seek to demonize, but seeks to understand.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Weiss, who started at the news organization earlier this month, has said she wants to focus on “news that reflects reality” and journalism that “doesn’t seek to demonize, but seeks to understand.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

And it’s one thing to suggest that current approaches could be made more effective, but quite another to demonize them in the name of forging “better” warfighters.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2025

The tendency to sentimentalize nature has, in our time, largely taken the place of the old tendency to demonize and spiritize it.

From Ways of Nature by Burroughs, John