de·mor·al·ize

[dih-mawr-uh-lahyz, -mor-]
verb (used with object), de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing.
1.
to deprive (a person or persons) of spirit, courage, discipline, etc.; destroy the morale of: The continuous barrage demoralized the infantry.
2.
to throw (a person) into disorder or confusion; bewilder: We were so demoralized by that one wrong turn that we were lost for hours.
3.
to corrupt or undermine the morals of.
Also, especially British, de·mor·al·ise.


Origin:
1785–95; < French démoraliser. See de-, moral, -ize

de·mor·al·i·za·tion, noun
de·mor·al·iz·er, noun
de·mor·al·iz·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To demoralize
00:10
Demoralize is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
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World English Dictionary
demoralize or demoralise (dɪˈmɒrəˌlaɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to undermine the morale of; dishearten: he was demoralized by his defeat
2.  to debase morally; corrupt
3.  to throw into confusion
 
demoralise or demoralise
 
vb
 
demorali'zation or demoralise
 
n
 
demorali'sation or demoralise
 
n
 
de'moralizer or demoralise
 
n
 
de'moraliser or demoralise
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

demoralize
c.1793, "to corrupt the morals of," from Fr. demoraliser, from de- "remove" + moral (adj.) (see moral). Said to be a coinage of the Fr. Revolution. Sense of "lower the morale of" (especially of armies) is first recorded 1848.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
It can also use further provocative techniques to demoralize the adversary.
When white supremacists could not halt the civil rights movement, they tried to
  demoralize its supporters.
Field workers have been known to find creative ways to boost the morale of
  their own troops or demoralize the other side.
The challenge is to create a process for change that will not strengthen
  resistance and demoralize staff.
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