1
as in to paralyze
to deprive of courage or confidence
the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The specter of coming staff reductions and a fundamental reorientation of the agency’s functions have left hundreds of the department’s more than 4,200 workers demoralized and sounding the alarm about the effect on educators.
—
Zach Montague, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
But that doesn’t mean setting impossible, demoralizing goals.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The five months since the November 2024 presidential election have been among the most challenging and frequently demoralizing in the modern history of the Democratic Party.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
For weeks, groups have organized anti-Tesla protests across the U.S. in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Donald Trump’s November victory.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Zach Montague, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
But that doesn’t mean setting impossible, demoralizing goals.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The five months since the November 2024 presidential election have been among the most challenging and frequently demoralizing in the modern history of the Democratic Party.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
For weeks, groups have organized anti-Tesla protests across the U.S. in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Donald Trump’s November victory.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demoralize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralize
Verb
-
The damage was fractures to both hands, his right arm, left and right leg and some broken ribs, but the multiple injuries to his spinal cord were the most devastating of all, paralyzing his legs.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
However, so much has happened since 2020 — the year that a pandemic paralyzed the country — that Idahoans could be forgiven if their memories of the event are a little hazy.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In Maui, while some of the island’s celebrity homeowners initially discouraged visitors from returning, the region was welcoming people back two months after the wildfires, says Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā, chief stewardship officer at the Hawaii Tourism Authority.—
Shoshi Parks,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
-
That change is avoidable, Dalio said, if lawmakers work together to trim the deficit and the U.S. discourages conflict and inefficient policy on the global stage.—
Russell Leung,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
There was a period when Broadway creators thought the only way to get a performance was to humiliate a person.—
Mark Seliger,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
-
An investigation of at least eight fraternities found that members humiliated students through means like beating them with paddles or forcing potential recruits to eat live fish and drink urine, according to court filings.—
Dan Belson,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This attempt to intimidate nonresidents into silence is the latest step in a long process of vilifying the pro-Palestinian student movement.—
Bastiaan Vanacker,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Thinking About Deadlines For those who can be intimidated by planning, Isip suggests starting from an endpoint and working backward.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Although so highly esteemed, the notoriously taciturn director would often frustrate his colleagues by his reticence to explain his directorial intentions.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The team settled on a patient with SD Autism Spectrum disorder who had an ankle sprain but frustrated Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) with his endless questions.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Government lawyers argue that Meta's services have degraded in quality in part because of its dominant position in the marketplace.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
-
According to the National Institutes of Health, ALS progressively degrades, then kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
An American Airlines flight was forced to turn back around after a disruptive passenger began to frighten other passengers on the way from New York to Milan on Tuesday, April 8, the airline said.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.—
Zameena Mejia,
Refinery29,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
-
One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.—
Julia Angwin,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralize. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share