What does demoralizingly mean?
Demoralizingly is an adverb that means in a manner that causes a loss of morale or confidence. It is often used to describe a situation or behavior that has a negative impact on someone's spirit or motivation. The word is commonly used in informal writing and speech, but can also be used in formal contexts. It is often contrasted with words that have a positive impact, such as inspiring or motivating. Demoralizingly can be used to describe a wide range of situations, from a team's slow start to a season to a person's critical comments. The word is often used to convey a sense of disappointment or frustration, and can be used to describe a situation that is difficult to overcome. Overall, demoralizingly is a useful word for describing situations that have a negative impact on someone's morale or motivation.
adverbIn a manner that causes a loss of morale or confidence; in a way that undermines someone's spirit or motivation.
- In a manner that causes a loss of morale or confidence; in a way that undermines someone's spirit or motivation.
"The team's demoralizingly slow start to the season left them struggling to catch up."
"The team's demoralizingly slow start to the season left them struggling to catch up."
"Her demoralizingly critical comments made it difficult for her colleagues to work with her."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of demoralizingly
The word demoralizingly is derived from the verb demoralize, which means to cause a loss of morale or confidence. The verb is itself derived from the word moral, which refers to a person's character or principles. The word morale has been in use since the 15th century, and has been used to describe a person's spirit or motivation since the 17th century. The adverb demoralizingly is a relatively recent development, and is thought to have originated in the 20th century.
How demoralizingly is actually used
Demoralizingly is often used to describe a situation or behavior that has a negative impact on someone's morale or motivation. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more commonly used in informal writing and speech.