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demoralize

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅mor⋅al⋅ize

  [di-mawr-uh-lahyz, -mor-]
Use demoralize in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -ized, -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; < F démoraliser. See de-, moral, -ize

Related forms:
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. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To demoralize
de·mor·al·ize   (dĭ-môr'ə-līz', -mŏr'-)   
tr.v.   de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing, de·mor·al·iz·es

  1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten: an inconsistent policy that demoralized the staff.

  2. To put into disorder; confuse.

  3. To debase the morals of; corrupt.

de·mor'al·i·za'tion (-ə-lĭ-zā'shən) n., de·mor'al·iz'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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