demoralize

[ dih-mawr-uh-lahyz, -mor- ]

/ dɪˈmɔr əˌlaɪz, -ˈmɒr- /

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See synonyms for: demoralize / demoralized / demoralizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing.

to deprive (a person or persons) of spirit, courage, discipline, etc.; destroy the morale of: The continuous barrage demoralized the infantry.

to throw (a person) into disorder or confusion; bewilder: We were so demoralized by that one wrong turn that we were lost for hours.

to corrupt or undermine the morals of.

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Also especially British, de·mor·al·ise .

Origin of demoralize

From the French word démoraliser, dating back to 1785–95. See de-, moral, -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM demoralize

de·mor·al·i·za·tion, nounde·mor·al·iz·er, nounde·mor·al·iz·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use demoralize in a sentence

This is all very well in its way, but one lot fetched 4000, and such an amount would demoralise any average.
Prices of Books|Henry B. Wheatley
Why demoralise them, why instil the love of money into their innocent minds?
Mr. Punch on the Continong|Various
There is nothing that tends more to demoralise business than this practice, and we wish it stopped.
The Romance of the Reaper|Herbert Newton Casson
Look here: if you don't mind being blasphemous for yourself, don't demoralise the natives.
The Magnetic North|Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)

Daphne felt rather ashamed of these proceedings, which seemed to her not merely undignified, but likely to demoralise the public.
In Brief Authority|F. Anstey

British Dictionary definitions for demoralize

demoralize

demoralise

/ (dɪˈmɒrəˌlaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to undermine the morale of; disheartenhe was demoralized by his defeat

to debase morally; corrupt

to throw into confusion

Derived forms of demoralize

demoralization or demoralisation, noundemoralizer or demoraliser, noun

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

demoralize

Origin of demoralize

OTHER WORDS FROM demoralize

Words related to demoralize

How to use demoralize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demoralize

demoralise

Derived forms of demoralize