demythologize

American  

[dee-mi-thol-uh-jahyz] / ˌdi mɪˈθɒl əˌdʒaɪz /

especially British, demythologise

verb (used with object)

demythologized, demythologizing

1. to divest of mythological or legendary attributes or forms, as in order to permit clearer appraisal and understanding.

   to demythologize the music dramas of Richard Wagner for modern listeners.

2. to make less mysterious or mythical so as to give a more human character to.

   to demythologize the presidency.

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verb (used without object)

demythologized, demythologizing

1. to separate mythological, legendary, or apocryphal elements from a writing, work of art, historical figure, etc.

demythologize British  

/ ˌdiːmɪˈθɒləˌdʒaɪz /

verb

1. to eliminate all mythical elements from (a piece of writing, esp the Bible) so as to arrive at an essential meaning

2. to restate (a message, esp a religious one) in rational terms

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Other Word Forms

• demythologization noun
• demythologizer noun

Etymology

Origin of demythologize

First recorded in 1945–50; de- + mythologize

Example Sentences

McMurtry’s stark assessment grew in part from a vexation that, despite his lifelong project to demythologize the cowboy, the ultimate American icon, his most celebrated book had the inverse effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

She wants to demythologize PMDD’s sources to figure out whether these spurts of female rage are really based in human biology.

From Slate • Jul. 25, 2018

Regrettably, this does not lead to keener insights into his plays, and sometimes Winters’s efforts to demythologize Shepard come across as the desire to take him down a peg or two.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2017

While repeating a vow to cooperate with lawmakers, he added: "We have to demythologize this issue, and certainly depoliticize it."

From Reuters • Apr. 30, 2013

In 1986, for Esquire, he wrote a memorable article about the Red Sox slugger Ted Williams that, as “What It Takes” would do, sought to demythologize an American institution.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2013