Definition

1. Verb:
   • To portray as evil or demonic: To represent someone or something as being thoroughly evil, threatening, or as a source of great harm, often in an exaggerated or unfair way.
   • To attribute demonic qualities to: To characterize a person, group, or idea as if they were a demon or an embodiment of evil.

Usage

• The verb "demonise" is used to describe the act of unfairly vilifying or making a target seem monstrous. It often implies a process of propaganda, prejudice, or oversimplification where complex entities are reduced to purely evil symbols.
• It is commonly used in political, social, and media discourse to criticize the unfair treatment of opponents, minorities, or foreign nations.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The media campaign sought to demonise the political opposition, painting them as enemies of the state.
  • It is dangerous to demonise an entire ethnic group based on the actions of a few.
  • In times of conflict, governments often demonise their adversaries to justify military action.

Advanced Usage

• "to demonise the other": A common phrase in sociological and political analysis referring to the process of dehumanizing an opposing group by attributing absolute evil to them.
  • The rhetoric of the conflict was built on the need to demonise the other.
• Concept of Demonisation: Used as a noun form (though "demonization" is more standard) to describe the overall process or result.
  • The demonisation of immigrants in certain tabloids is a concerning trend.

Variants and Related Words

• Demonize: The standard spelling in American English. (e.g., )
• Demonization (n): The act or process of demonising. (e.g., )
• Demon (n): An evil spirit or cruel person; the source concept.

Synonyms

• Vilify: To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
• Malign: To speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.
• Diabolize: A less common synonym meaning to represent as diabolical.

Antonyms

• Deify: To treat or regard as a god.
• Idealize: To regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality.
• Humanize: To give (something) a human character or make it more humane and understandable.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Paint someone as a demon: An idiomatic expression similar in meaning to "demonise."
  • The article painted the activist as a demon hell-bent on destroying the economy.
• A campaign of demonisation: Refers to an organized effort to demonise a target.
  • The regime launched a campaign of demonisation against intellectuals.

Verb

1. make into a demon
   • Power had demonized him