Standard Lemma guide

demoralization

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪˌmɒɹəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 M AO2 R AH0 L IH0 Z EY1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of corrupting or subverting morale, discipline, courage, hope, etc., or the state of being corrupted or subverted in morale.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • the demoralization of an army or navy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The act degrading the moral value of something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

destroying the moral basis for a doctrine or policy

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demoralisation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: degradation, debasement

4

noun

Meaning 4

depression resulting from an undermining of your morale

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demoralisation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: depression

5

noun

Meaning 5

a state of disorder and confusion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his inconsistency resulted in the demoralization of his staff

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demoralisation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: confusion

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English demoralize Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English demoralization From demoralize + -ation.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: demoralizace — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Finnish: demoralisointi — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Finnish: demoralisaatio — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • German: Demoralisierung — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Italian: demoralizzazione — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Polish: demoralizacja — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Russian: деморализация (demoralizacija) — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Spanish: desmoralización — act of corrupting or subverting morale
  • Ukrainian: деморалізація (demoralizacija) — act of corrupting or subverting morale