What does demoralised mean?
Demoralised describes someone who has lost their sense of confidence, enthusiasm, or hope — usually because of prolonged hardship, repeated failure, or discouraging treatment. A demoralised workforce, for instance, is one whose motivation has been steadily worn away by poor conditions or lack of recognition; demoralised troops have lost the will to fight. The word carries a connotation of gradual erosion rather than sudden collapse, distinguishing it from words like 'devastated' or 'shattered'. It functions as an adjective, most often appearing after linking verbs such as 'feel', 'seem', or 'become', though it can also modify nouns directly. Standard in British spelling as 'demoralised' and American spelling as 'demoralized', it is a staple of journalism, workplace commentary, and military history. Its enduring usefulness lies in capturing a state both psychological and collective: individuals are demoralised when their spirit has been systematically undermined.
adjectiveHaving lost confidence, hope, or morale; discouraged and dispirited, especially as a result of prolonged difficulty or repeated setbacks.
- Deprived of morale, confidence, or hope; dispirited, typically as a result of sustained hardship, failure, or harsh treatment.
"After months of rejected proposals, the team felt utterly demoralised."
"The demoralised soldiers abandoned the siege after weeks of relentless shelling."
"Years of unpaid overtime left the staff demoralised and indifferent to the company's fortunes."
When French troops lost heart in the 1790s, their officers said they had been 'démoralisé' — a word so useful it marched straight into English.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of demoralised
The word derives from the French 'démoraliser', formed from the prefix 'dé-' plus 'morale', meaning spirit or morale, which itself traces to Latin 'moralis'. It entered English around the late eighteenth century during the Revolutionary era, initially used of armies whose fighting spirit had been broken before broadening to any loss of confidence or resolve. It shares its root with 'moral', 'morale', and 'morality', all descending ultimately from the Latin 'mos' (custom or character).
Related word forms
How demoralised is actually used
'Demoralised' is the standard British spelling; American English uses 'demoralized'. It is common in formal and journalistic registers, frequently describing troops, employees, students, or teams worn down by circumstances. It implies a process — morale eroded over time rather than lost suddenly.
Easily confused with demoralised
'Demoralised' describes the person who has lost morale, while 'demoralizing' describes something that causes that loss of morale.