Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb demoralize
3 senses of demoralize
Sense 1
corrupt, pervert, subvert, demoralize, demoralise, debauch, debase, profane, vitiate, deprave, misdirect -- (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")
=> change, alter, modify -- (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue")
Sense 2
depress, deject, cast down, get down, dismay, dispirit, demoralize, demoralise -- (lower someone's spirits; make downhearted; "These news depressed her"; "The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her")
=> discourage -- (deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged)
Sense 3
demoralize -- (confuse or put into disorder; "the boss's behavior demoralized everyone in the office")
=> confuse, throw, fox, befuddle, fuddle, bedevil, confound, discombobulate -- (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts"; "This question completely threw me"; "This question befuddled even the teacher")
Antonyms of adj demoralized
1 sense of demoralized
Sense 1
demoralized, demoralised, discouraged, disheartened -- (made less hopeful or enthusiastic; "desperate demoralized people looking for work"; "felt discouraged by the magnitude of the problem"; "the disheartened instructor tried vainly to arouse their interest")
INDIRECT (VIA pessimistic) -> optimistic -- (expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds; "in an optimistic mood"; "optimistic plans"; "took an optimistic view")
Similarity of adj demoralized
1 sense of demoralized
Sense 1
demoralized, demoralised, discouraged, disheartened -- (made less hopeful or enthusiastic; "desperate demoralized people looking for work"; "felt discouraged by the magnitude of the problem"; "the disheartened instructor tried vainly to arouse their interest")
=> pessimistic (vs. optimistic) -- (expecting the worst possible outcome)