Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense demoralizes, present participle demoralizing, past tense, past participle demoralizedregional note: in BRIT, also use demoralise
verb
If something demoralizes someone, it makes them lose so much confidence in what they are doing that they want to give up.
Clearly, one of the objectives is to demoralize the enemy troops in any way theycan. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: dishearten, undermine, discourage, shake More Synonyms of demoralize
demoralizedadjective
The ship's crew were now exhausted and utterly demoralized.
...legitimate grievances raised by a demoralized police force.
Synonyms: disheartened, undermined, discouraged, broken More Synonyms of demoralize
demoralization (dɪmɒrəlaɪzeɪʃən, US -mɔːr-)uncountable noun
...the lingering demoralization that followed defeat in World War I.
Synonyms: lowering or loss of morale, panic, crushing, weakening More Synonyms of demoralize
demoralize in British English
or demoralise (dɪˈmɒrəˌlaɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to undermine the morale of; dishearten
he was demoralized by his defeat
2.
to debase morally; corrupt
3.
to throw into confusion
Derived forms
demoralization (deˌmoraliˈzation) or demoralisation (deˌmoraliˈsation)
noun
demoralizer (deˈmoralˌizer) or demoraliser (deˈmoralˌiser)
noun
demoralize in American English
(diˈmɔrəˌlaɪz; dɪˈmɔrəlaɪz)
US
verb transitiveWord forms: deˈmoralˌized or deˈmoralˌizing
1. Rare
to corrupt the morals of; deprave
2.
to lower the morale of; weaken the spirit, courage, discipline, or staying power of
3.
to throw into confusion
Derived forms
demoralization (deˌmoraliˈzation)
noun
demoralizer (deˈmoralˌizer)
noun
Word origin
coined (1793) by Webster3 (sense 3) < de- + moral + -ize
Examples of 'demoralize' in a sentence
demoralize
Still they could not demoralize the Nuristanis, and the fight continued.
Shah, Idries KARA KUSH
In other languages
demoralize
British English: demoralize VERB
If something demoralizes someone, it makes them lose so much confidence in what they are doing that they want to give up.
One of the objectives is to demoralize the enemy troops.
American English: demoralize
Brazilian Portuguese: desmoralizar
Chinese: 使泄气
European Spanish: desmoralizar
French: démoraliser
German: entmutigen
Italian: demoralizzare
Japanese: やる気を喪失させる
Korean: 사기를 저하시키다
European Portuguese: desmoralizar
Latin American Spanish: desmoralizar
(verb)
Definition
to deprive (someone) of confidence or enthusiasm
One of the objectives is to demoralize enemy troops.
Synonyms
dishearten
These conditions dishearten people and undermine their hope.
undermine
discourage
Don't let this setback discourage you.
shake
depress
The state of the country depresses me.
weaken
Her opponents believe that her authority has been fatally weakened.