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
Even now, several grueling years into a horrific health crisis that’s claimed hundreds of thousands of Americans, a demoralizing stigma plagues opioid users and their families.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
Hagar left the group in 1996, returning in 2004 for a disastrous reunion tour that ended with Eddie Van Halen smashing his guitar onstage in Tucson, Arizona, bringing the Van Hagar years to a demoralizing finish that still haunts the singer to this day.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 17 Aug. 2024
The intention, say US and Ukrainian officials, is multifaceted, in part to disrupt and demoralize Russian forces and in part to divert Russian forces away from other parts of the eastern front.
—Allegra Goodwin, CNN, 8 Aug. 2024
Committing 11 turnovers isn’t demoralizing, but the Fever went the other way and scored 20 points off them, compared with just 10 points off turnovers for the Mystics.
—Kareem Copeland, Washington Post, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for demoralize 
Michael Ashley, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
Hagar left the group in 1996, returning in 2004 for a disastrous reunion tour that ended with Eddie Van Halen smashing his guitar onstage in Tucson, Arizona, bringing the Van Hagar years to a demoralizing finish that still haunts the singer to this day.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 17 Aug. 2024
The intention, say US and Ukrainian officials, is multifaceted, in part to disrupt and demoralize Russian forces and in part to divert Russian forces away from other parts of the eastern front.
—Allegra Goodwin, CNN, 8 Aug. 2024
Committing 11 turnovers isn’t demoralizing, but the Fever went the other way and scored 20 points off them, compared with just 10 points off turnovers for the Mystics.
—Kareem Copeland, Washington Post, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for demoralize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demoralize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near demoralize
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demoralize. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
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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