de·mor·al·ize (dĭ-môr'ə-līz', -mŏr'-)
tr.v., -ized, -iz·ing, -iz·es.

1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten: an inconsistent policy that demoralized the staff.
2. To put into disorder; confuse.
3. To debase the morals of; corrupt.

demoralization de·mor'al·i·za'tion (-ə-lĭ-zā'shən) n.
demoralizer de·mor'al·iz'er n.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---