DEMORALIZE Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

demoralize

verb

di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz

Definition of demoralize

as in to paralyze

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 This demoralized his troops, who promptly fled or surrendered. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 Those have avoided injuries to key players that can demoralize a team and affect a season. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 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 due to illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for demoralize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for demoralize

Verb

The young actor can pull off the swagger and charisma required of a teenage Haymitch, but he was intimidated by the idea of taking on the character’s accent.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Those who use technology to harass, intimidate or torment others should understand that attempts to anonymize their criminal conduct will not shield them from prosecution.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimidate

Verb

In response, Cobb County police plan to increase patrols on and around the holiday and other departments are discouraging participation.

— Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 3 Oct. 2026
The combination of higher rates and short supply discourages current homeowners from moving, especially those who locked in mortgages at affordably low interest rates.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of discourage

Verb

This caution is surprising in a writer who has elsewhere been fearless about identity and America, attentive to the country’s institutional capacity to humiliate, compromise, and implicate the people who claim it.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
But the Saudis, humiliated by their losses in Yemen, seem likely to lash out.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

But the more productive expansion has to do with character, especially as regards Carrie and her mother, who is not the deranged, abusive religious fanatic of previous versions, but an essentially loving parent frightened of the modern world.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
The stranger’s hollow cheeks, his dark eyes, whose lashes always appeared wet, the bony shoulders that protruded from the singlet Chee Meng had lent him—all of it frightened Shawn.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of frighten

Verb

To make matters worse, companies like Target—frustrated by an underdeveloped Southeast Asian factory ecosystem—are moving supply chains back to China.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
When a batter gets thrown out at second base for trying to turn a single into a double, fans get frustrated.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrate

Verb

As a side benefit, because only the tread is in contact with the road, the rest of the tire could be made of non-traditional polymers that don't degrade into tiny particles under force of friction.

— Ben Coxworth October 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Local farms face ever degrading soil conditions, tougher markets and more extreme weather patterns.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

Once Isaias comes ashore, it is expected to weaken until it is downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane center said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Last but certainly not least, there’s the focus on communicating local relevancy as a differentiator without weakening brand equity and DNA.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

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demoralization

demoralize

demoralized

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“Demoralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demoralize. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of demoralize

verb

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