to demoralize

Examples

• All

• But it wasn't enough that he demoralized them in the papers and on television; after all, they might not have been listening.

  Fiction book (2001)

• It has demoralized the harem to admit a partner to your bed and escape your fury.

  Fiction book (1996)

• But Altman, as I recall, didn't demoralize at all.

  Academic text (2008)

• People have to make a living, but excessive reliance on incentives demoralizes professional activity in two senses of that word.

• To the enemy side, the use of shock and awe would be following Sun Tzu: demoralize the enemy, and avoiding future attacks is a better outcome than actually having to fight each battle.

  Blog text (9)

• I think these sorts of topics can possibly stop them from becoming as commercial as they may want to be, as not even the rappers who appear to demoralize women by talking to them as "hoes" etc. talk about that shit.

  Blog text (29)

• They had suffered a catastrophic defeat, and the annexation by Prussia of the two regions was terribly demoralizing and humiliating.

  Academic text (2000)

• I'm sure Evander Holyfield or some Kimbo Slice would be willing to offer more than that, but Wladdy wouldn't take those very unsportsmanlike and demoralizing money baits.

  Blog text (16)

• The constant criticism from his peers began to demoralize him, making him doubt his abilities.

• She felt that the unfair treatment at work could demoralize even the most dedicated employee.

Synonyms

C

to corrupt

vsto demoralize

125 4.5

To make someone act dishonestly, often by giving them money

focuses more on moral ruin and sensual inducement rather than bribery

D

to degrade

vsto demoralize

55 5.1

To treat someone so they feel ashamed or less respected

refers instead to moral corruption and character decay via sensuality

S

to seduce

vsto demoralize

53 5.9

Persuade someone to give up duties or beliefs by offering something attractive

does not only persuade but broadly corrupts morals and character via sensuality

D

to debase

vsto demoralize

12 7.7

To make someone's morals worse by causing selfish or dishonest behaviour

focuses on corrupting whole morals or character especially via sensuality

P

to pervert

vsto demoralize

• NSFW

9 7.9

Cause someone to do things that are morally wrong

emphasizes corrupting morals and character particularly by sensual indulgence

D

to debauch

vsto demoralize

• NSFW

3 9.9

To lead someone into too much drinking, sex, or other wrong acts

is similar but stresses overall character corruption rather than only excess

S

to subvert

vsto demoralize

3 8.4

To make someone behave in a morally wrong way

is similar but specifically highlights encouraging intemperance or sensuality

D

to deprave

vsto demoralize

• Formal

1 8.3

To make someone behave badly by giving them wrong ideas

targets moral character specifically often by encouraging intemperance or sensuality

P

to profane

vsto demoralize

1 8.4

To make people less moral by encouraging bad behaviour

highlights corrupting character broadly with special emphasis on indulgence

V

to vitiate

vsto demoralize

• Formal

9.9

Make a person lose moral strength or become corrupt

is focused more narrowly on moral corruption via intemperance or sensuality

S

to sensualize

vsto demoralize

• NSFW

9.1

Make something seem mainly about physical or sexual pleasure and lower its moral value

applies the same sensual focus but to a person's whole moral character

C

to carnalize

vsto demoralize

• NSFW

9.9

To make something worse by treating it as sexual pleasure

describes overall moral corruption that often works through sensual temptation

B

to bestialize

vsto demoralize

• NSFW

9.9

Make a person or group lose human feelings and act like a cruel animal

centers on corrupting morals through sensual indulgence rather than bestial descent

Antonyms

U

to uplift

23 3.2

To make someone feel happier and more hopeful

How Corrupting

to deprave

• Formal

1 8.3

to demoralize

• Formal

1 7.5

to corrupt

125 4.5

to lead astray

20 5.5

to tempt

146 3.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology