Library / English Dictionary

DEMORALIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Confuse or put into disorder

Example:

the boss's behavior demoralized everyone in the office

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "demoralize" is one way to...):

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

demoralization (a state of disorder and confusion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lower someone's spirits; make downhearted

Example:

The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her

Synonyms:

cast down; deject; demoralise; demoralize; depress; dismay; dispirit; get down

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "demoralize" is one way to...):

discourage (deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "demoralize"):

chill (depress or discourage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will demoralize him

Derivation:

demoralization (depression resulting from an undermining of your morale)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality

Example:

corrupt the morals

Synonyms:

corrupt; debase; debauch; demoralise; demoralize; deprave; misdirect; pervert; profane; subvert; vitiate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "demoralize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "demoralize"):

carnalise; carnalize; sensualise; sensualize (debase through carnal gratification)

infect (corrupt with ideas or an ideology)

lead astray; lead off (teach immoral behavior to)

poison (spoil as if by poison)

bastardise; bastardize (change something so that its value declines; for example, art forms)

suborn (incite to commit a crime or an evil deed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

demoralization (destroying the moral basis for a doctrine or policy)

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