demoralize
verb
de·mor·al·ize
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 
ˌdē-,
-ˈmär-
demoralized; demoralizing; demoralizes
1
: to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : to corrupt the morals of
2
a
: to weaken the morale of : discourage, dispirit
were demoralized by the loss
b
: to upset or destroy the normal functioning of
foreclosures were further demoralizing an already desperate real-estate market—
F. D. Roosevelt
F. D. Roosevelt
c
: to throw into disorder
Examples of demoralize in a Sentence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week
Recent Examples on the Web
Campbell’s fourth-down decisions and Johnson’s play-calling on such downs can demoralize a defense and force a head coach to try to beat Detroit at its own game.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Most teens feel like they’re not being heard when trying to get their point across to their parents, which can be demoralizing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
The incident was nothing short of perverse: Israel targeted and killed people trying to make a dent in the imminent famine that Israel itself has engineered as part of its strategy to demoralize and destroy, in whole or in part*, the Palestinian population.
—Longreads, 18 Dec. 2024
This will demoralize war-weary Ukrainians, desperate for a lasting cease-fire and final settlement.
—Niall Ferguson, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demoralize 
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Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Most teens feel like they’re not being heard when trying to get their point across to their parents, which can be demoralizing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
The incident was nothing short of perverse: Israel targeted and killed people trying to make a dent in the imminent famine that Israel itself has engineered as part of its strategy to demoralize and destroy, in whole or in part*, the Palestinian population.
—Longreads, 18 Dec. 2024
This will demoralize war-weary Ukrainians, desperate for a lasting cease-fire and final settlement.
—Niall Ferguson, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demoralize
Dictionary Entries Near demoralize
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
demoralize
verb
de·mor·al·ize
di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz
-ˈmär-
1
: to make bad or evil
2
: to weaken in spirit or discipline
fear demoralized the army
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