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
Words Nearby demoralize
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use demoralize in a sentence
The first restricts drug use, possession, sale, and distribution to the purposes of science or medicine, while the second sees collaboration to intercept and demoralize drug traffickers.
Which means that they are still good enough to demoralize the competition in some of the more low-profile races around the globe.
Behind the Scenes of a Unique FKT Attempt in Kenya | Martin Fritz Huber | November 24, 2020 | Outside OnlineShe warned that taking away school police would demoralize Alexandria staff.
Alexandria City Public Schools approves revisions to contract with police | Hannah Natanson | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostI don’t know what is right now, the principles of democracy have been so denigrated and demoralized around the world.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea has said that his officers are feeling constrained by a new bill passed by the City Council that makes it a crime to put their knee into someone’s back and are feeling demoralized by a general lack of public support.
What Can Mayors Do When the Police Stop Doing Their Jobs? | by Alec MacGillis | September 3, 2020 | ProPublica
So in addition to being able to demoralize and exhaust you, the book tour can kill you.
Dumps and Death Threats, Hecklers and Vindication: True Tales from Today’s DIY Book Tour | Bill Morris | August 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAccusations of dishonor demonize and demoralize, making it difficult to compromise, and sapping the motivation to act nobly.
Delegitimizing Israel Makes Peace Harder to Achieve | Gil Troy | February 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTOkay, Israel has a bad addiction, to settlements, but why demoralize us?
Capturing bin Laden would, it's safe to say, demoralize al Qaeda's remaining leadership far more than killing him has.
This was the beginning of the fatal practice destined in the end to enervate France and demoralize the army.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan SloaneNot a brigade from Lee had reached the city, and the disaster was calculated to demoralize the Rebel soldiers.
The Boys of '61 | Charles Carleton Coffin.The worst of it was that his behavior, as I could see, had already begun to demoralize the objects of his misplaced politeness.
A Traveler from Altruria: Romance | William Dean HowellsLet us guard the children and put down every influence that would tend to demoralize either our boys or girls!
Prisons and Prayer: Or a Labor of Love | Elizabeth Ryder WheatonLet us put down with an indignant rebuke every attempt to demoralize our action or destroy its effect.
A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention | Lucius Eugene Chittenden
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
Browse