demoralize
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.
Origin of demoralize
1- Also especially British, de·mor·al·ise .
Other words from demoralize
- de·mor·al·i·za·tion, noun
- de·mor·al·iz·er, noun
- de·mor·al·iz·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use demoralize in a sentence
Another reads: “the media coalition looks completely demoralised.”
New Emails Revealed as James Murdoch Takes the Stand at the Leveson Inquiry | Peter Jukes | April 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTBut the latest exposures have left the force thoroughly demoralised.
Even New Zealand Brigade which has been only recently engaged lost heavily and is to some extent demoralised.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonAlthough the army was greatly demoralised during the retreat through Portugal, he never lost a single gun or baggage wagon.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonThe French army, so long accustomed to success, was absolutely demoralised by repeated disappointments and defeats.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
They set a bright example to the nobles of other countries, and very frequently even to the less demoralised society of our own.
Newton Forster | Captain Frederick MarryatThere was no question that our ranks were demoralised and heartsick.
My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War | Ben Viljoen.
British Dictionary definitions for demoralize
demoralise
/ (dɪˈmɒrəˌlaɪz) /
to undermine the morale of; dishearten: he was demoralized by his defeat
to debase morally; corrupt
to throw into confusion
Derived forms of demoralize
- demoralization or demoralisation, noun
- demoralizer 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
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