What does demoralisingly mean?
"Demoralisingly" is an adverb describing an action or condition that undermines people's morale — that is, their confidence, courage, or will to persist. It typically modifies adjectives such as "slow," "high," "long," or "bad," as in "a demoralisingly slow investigation" or "the team played demoralisingly badly." The word carries a strongly negative connotation: whatever it describes does not merely disappoint but actively erodes resolve over time, which is why it often appears in accounts of bureaucracy, defeat, hardship, and prolonged effort. It derives from the verb "demoralise," formed from the prefix "de-" plus "morale," ultimately tracing back to Latin "moralis," meaning relating to custom or character. British English spells it with an -s-, while American English prefers "demoralizingly." Though somewhat formal in register, it remains current in journalism and general prose wherever a speaker wishes to convey that something is disheartening to the point of wearing people down.
adverbIn a manner that undermines someone's confidence, morale, or hope; in a way that causes a person or group to feel discouraged or disheartened.
- In a manner that saps courage, confidence, or morale.
"The team lost demoralisingly, conceding three goals in the final ten minutes."
"Progress on the repairs was demoralisingly slow, with the roof still leaking weeks after the storm."
"The candidate performed demoralisingly badly in the final debate, stumbling over even rehearsed answers."
It comes from the same root as 'moral' — to demoralise someone is literally to strip away their sense of spirit and purpose.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of demoralisingly
"Demoralisingly" derives from the verb "demoralise," which combines the prefix "de-" with "morale." "Morale" itself entered English from French, ultimately from the Latin "moralis," meaning "relating to custom or character," the same root that gives us "moral" and "morality." The verb arose in the late eighteenth century, originally used of troops whose fighting spirit had been broken. The adverb followed naturally once the participial adjective "demoralising" was established.
Related word forms
How demoralisingly is actually used
Carries an unambiguously negative connotation and is common in both formal journalism and everyday complaint. The spelling 'demoralisingly' is British; American English uses 'demoralizingly'.
Easily confused with demoralisingly
'Demographically' relates to population statistics, whereas 'demoralisingly' means in a way that destroys morale; the words merely share a similar shape.