( BrE also de·mor·al·ise ) / dɪˈmɒrəlaɪz; NAmE -ˈmɔːr-; -ˈmɑːr-/ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to make sb lose confidence or hope
SYN dishearten :
Constant criticism is enough to demoralize anybody.
► de·mor·al·ized , de·mor·al·ised adjective :
The workers here seem very demoralized.
► de·mor·al·iz·ing , de·mor·al·ised adjective :
the demoralizing effects of unemployment
► de·mor·al·iza·tion , de·mor·al·ised / dɪˌmɒrəlaɪˈzeɪʃn; NAmE -ˌmɔːrələˈz-; -ˌmɑːrələˈz-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: from French démoraliser (a word of the French Revolution), from dé- (expressing reversal) + moral moral, from Latin moralis .