Words / C1

di-MOR-uh-lyz/dɪˈmɒrəlaɪz/

To demoralise is to make someone lose confidence or hope (UK spelling): demoralise the team, a demoralising cut. Discourage is milder; a resilience slide does not restore unpaid nights.

Meaning

To make someone lose confidence or hope (UK spelling).

Examples

• “An unpaid night will demoralise cover; a resilience slide will not restore it.”
• “Discourage is milder. Dishearten is the close twin. Resilience is a slogan. Pay on the rota is a file. Pay the night; then screen the slide if morale still needs a caption.”

Good to know

Drain confidence or hope (UK). Close: dishearten. A resilience slide ≠ pay.

Near in meaning

discourage, dishearten, undermine

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