demythologize

[ dee-mi-thol-uh-jahyz ]

verb (used with object),de·my·thol·o·gized, de·my·thol·o·giz·ing.
  1. to divest of mythological or legendary attributes or forms, as in order to permit clearer appraisal and understanding: to demythologize the music dramas of Richard Wagner for modern listeners.

  2. to make less mysterious or mythical so as to give a more human character to: to demythologize the presidency.

verb (used without object),de·my·thol·o·gized, de·my·thol·o·giz·ing.
  1. to separate mythological, legendary, or apocryphal elements from a writing, work of art, historical figure, etc.

Origin of demythologize

1
First recorded in 1945–50; de- + mythologize
  • Also especially British, de·my·thol·o·gise .

Other words from demythologize

  • de·my·thol·o·gi·za·tion, noun
  • de·my·thol·o·giz·er, noun

Words Nearby demythologize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use demythologize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demythologize

demythologize

demythologise

/ (ˌdiːmɪˈθɒləˌdʒaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to eliminate all mythical elements from (a piece of writing, esp the Bible) so as to arrive at an essential meaning

  2. to restate (a message, esp a religious one) in rational terms

Derived forms of demythologize

  • demythologization or demythologisation, noun

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