DEMORALIZED Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

demoralized 1 of 2

adjective

as in degraded

having or showing lowered moral character or standards a demoralized nation that had forgotten the values that once made it great

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demoralized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of demoralize

as in paralyzed

to deprive of courage or confidence the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers

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as in discouraged

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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as in humiliated

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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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 demoralized

Adjective

Despite being outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Washington maintained order among his demoralized troops. — Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026 The Democratic Party has funneled all the fury of its demoralized and humiliated voter base into a focal point centered on immigration policy. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2026 Iraqi units were so demoralized and disorganized that, in one now-famous incident, a group of soldiers surrendered to an unmanned Pioneer drone. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 There’s sort of a demoralized aura around the program these days. — Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026 But a new study has found that such workplace jargon may be doing more harm than good—making employees feel confused, demoralized and less likely to collaborate with their coworkers. — Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025 The octogenarian trying to reach a new generation of voters amid a demoralized Democratic Party is a stark juxtaposition. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025

Verb

Despite the funeral arrangements demoralized Dodgers are making, Los Angeles isn't eliminated yet. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Tricia Poreda, a critical care resource nurse at Endeavor, said nurses across the system feel demoralized by staffing changes in recent years. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 But he and the offensive line were demoralized on a pair of run-stuffs. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026 In their first national title game, the Wildcats humiliated Oklahoma in the national semifinal by 44, and in their second, demoralized Michigan in the title game by 17. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 This demoralized his troops, who promptly fled or surrendered. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 There was concern that demoralized and impoverished Europeans—artists and intellectuals especially—would be drawn to the blandishments of the Soviet Union. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Nelson, demoralized by the trade, missed nine games that season because of illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995. — John Raby, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralized

Adjective

Design choices previously thought to boost power, such as widening the gap between electrodes, actually degraded performance under true operating conditions.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
Initially, Pike’s attorneys and several death penalty experts raised the possibility that the drugs may have been too old or degraded to work as intended.

— Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of degraded

Verb

One card was from a Syrian woman whose family discouraged her from sitting for an on camera to share her experiences as a refugee – so Sachs settles for filming a tribute to the woman’s cooking skills.

— Will Tizard, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
The coroner strongly discouraged him from viewing the remains.

— Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of discouraged

Verb

However, Rob Shuter is reporting that Meghan believes Kate purposefully humiliated her by recently taking Princess Charlotte on the London Underground.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
His daughter is humiliated, and the message could not be clearer.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of humiliated

Adjective

Meanwhile, Democrats are strongly opposed to the kind of corrupt authoritarian government that Republicans seem unwilling to even speak out against.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
The policy aims to make cadres more disciplined, effective and less corrupt.

— KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Verb

That’s a $69,000 per-screen average — a far cry from La La Land ($176K) or even Anora ($91K), but in line with the likes of Poor Things and I, Tonya, showing that the streamers’ imprimatur hasn’t scared off theatrical audiences.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Although Down was not the victim, the case definitely scared her family.

— Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of scared

Verb

The tight margins, after campaigning by both sides, show the measure is a tricky one for Californians who value environmental protections but are frustrated by the state’s high housing and utility costs, Baldassare said.

— Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Some of his closest Middle East advisers, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, had grown frustrated with the Israeli leader.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrated

Verb

Black voter turnout surges Another factor working in Democrats' favor this election cycle is a surge in Black turnout following a Supreme Court decision that weakened part of the Voting Rights Act.

— Stephen Fowler, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Conditions were expected to improve Saturday afternoon as winds weakened, with fair and dry weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of weakened

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Style

“Demoralized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralized. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of demoralized

adjective

verb

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