demoralize

/di'mɔrəlaiz/ Cách viết khác : (demoralise) /di'mɔrəlaiz/

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Definition of "Demoralize"

Demoralize is a verb that means to make someone feel less confident, less hopeful, or less enthusiastic. When someone is demoralized, they may feel sad, confused, or discouraged.

Usage Instructions

• Context: Use "demoralize" when talking about situations or actions that lower someone’s spirits or confidence.
• Subject: The subject can be a person, a group, or even news.
• Object: The object is usually the person or group that is feeling demoralized.

Examples

1. Simple Example: The bad news about the project’s failure demoralized the entire team.
2. Advanced Example: The constant criticism from his peers demoralized him, leading to a decline in his performance.

Variants of the Word

• Demoralization (noun): The act of demoralizing someone or the state of being demoralized.

  • Example: The demoralization of the troops affected their ability to fight effectively.

• Demoralized (adjective): Describes someone who has been made to feel less confident or hopeful.

  • Example: She felt demoralized after receiving negative feedback on her presentation.

Different Meanings

While "demoralize" primarily refers to lowering someone's spirits, in a different context, it can also refer to corrupting someone’s morals or ethics. However, this usage is less common.

Synonyms

• Discourage
• Dismay
• Depress
• Dishearten
• Deflate

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

1. "Hit rock bottom": This idiom means to reach the lowest point in one's life, which can lead to feelings of demoralization.

   • Example: After losing his job and facing personal issues, he felt like he had hit rock bottom.

2. "Bring someone down": A phrasal verb meaning to lower someone's spirits.

   • Example: The negative news from the media can really bring people down.

Summary

In summary, to "demoralize" means to take away someone's confidence or hope, often resulting in feelings of sadness or discouragement.

Academic

Verb

1. confuse or put into disorder
   • the boss's behavior demoralized everyone in the office
2. lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
   • These news depressed her
   • The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her
3. corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
   • debauch the young people with wine and women
   • Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
   • Do school counselors subvert young children?
   • corrupt the morals

Synonyms

• depress
• deject
• cast down
• get down
• dismay
• dispirit
• demoralise