demoralize

verb

di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce demoralize (audio)
Definition of demoralizenext
1
as in to paralyze
to deprive of courage or confidence the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to humiliate
to lower in character, dignity, or quality felt society as a whole has been demoralized by the widespread availability of pornography

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demoralize Sanders works as a counselor in Tucson, Arizona, and lately, the toxicity he’s been hearing has demoralized him. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 The killing is the latest act which Polish authorities believe could be part of a campaign of Russian sabotage aimed at sowing fear and demoralizing Ukraine’s closest allies. — Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 The San Antonio Spurs had just lost Game 3 of the Western Conference finals in demoralizing fashion. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026 Where Barbie was forced to reconsider Barbieland’s values after paying a visit to the real world, Adam is forced to uphold the real world’s values after being zapped back to a fantasyland whose greatest warriors have been utterly demoralized by their insufficient physical force. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralize
  1. paralyze
  2. discourage
  3. humiliate
  4. intimidate
  5. frustrate
  6. degrade
  7. frighten
  8. weaken
Verb
  • Once injected with venom, the prey is paralyzed and drained of bodily fluids.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • The storm paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine and even some parts of Canada from March 12 to March 14.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • Many gardeners buy praying mantis egg cases (oothecae) from garden nurseries, but this practice is discouraged for two reasons.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • Applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch, such as straw or leaf mulch, will discourage weeds in garden beds, says Langelo.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
Definition of discourage
Verb
  • One has to be willing to humiliate oneself in order to yodel, there is no spiritual bypass.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • The party has found a kind of rhythm, where the president breaks fundraising records, spreads the wealth around, and, in return, gets to humiliate disloyal Republicans in seats that the party can’t lose.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of humiliate
Verb
  • The parking at Krog Street Market can be intimidating, but there’s no need to try to navigate the valet or the small lot in the front of the market.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • The Oura Ring 4 has dropped to $399, cutting a cool $100 off the intimidating $499 list price.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 4 July 2026
Definition of intimidate
Verb
  • Belgium looked limited and frustrated, with Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans heading into the second-half hydration break in the middle of an angry argument.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • When temperatures rise, heat can quietly degrade pantry staples, making refrigeration essential to preserve quality and flavor.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
  • If leaders are not present and actively developing people, the system degrades—quietly at first, then all at once.
    — Brian Coyne, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of degrade
Verb
  • At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of frighten
Verb
  • The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.
    — Robert Hormats, Time, 4 July 2026
Definition of weaken

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Cite this Entry

“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralize. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of demoralize for Spanish Speakers

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