demoralize

pronunciation

How to pronounce demoralize in British English: UK [dɪˈmɒrəlaɪz] word uk audio image

How to pronounce demoralize in American English: US [dɪˈmɔrəlaɪz] word us audio image

Verb:

corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
confuse or put into disorder

Word Origin

demoralize (v.): c. 1793, "to corrupt the morals of," from French démoraliser, from de- "remove" (see de-) + moral (adj.) (see moral). Said to be a coinage of the French Revolution. Sense of "lower the morale of" (especially of armies) is first recorded 1848. Related: Demoralized; demoralizing.

Synonym

v.

unman enfeeble enervate dispirit depress crush discourage deflate dishearten daunt break down deject undermine sap

v.

vitiate pollute contaminate corrupt debase deprave debauch

v.

unnerve fluster upset throw panic shake disconcert or agitate disturb a confuse bewilder frighten perturb up into

Example

1. Bad employees demoralize the good employees .

2. What had possessed her to demoralize someone who had saved her life and the life of her son on countless occasions ?

3. A team leader must have the courage to intervene on the team 's behalf when obstacles that might cripple or demoralize the team arise .

4. This will confuse and demoralize the population to the extent where faced with too many choices , apathy on a massive scale will result .

5. I believe setting a deadline for a withdrawal would demoralize the iraqi people , would encourage killers across the broader middle east , and send a signal that america will not keep its commitments .

more: >How to Use "demoralize" with Example Sentences