demoralise
Sap the will
Demoralise is the British spelling of demoralize.
To demoralise is to undermine someone's confidence, spirit, or will to continue: The constant criticism demoralised the team.
A demoralising defeat leaves people discouraged and dispirited.
The word suggests wearing down morale rather than a single crushing blow.
Cause to lose hope
- disheartenCause to lose hope
- dejectTo lower spirits
- deflateRelease air from
- crushCompress with force
daunt · unnerve · shake · sadden · dismay · dampen · depress · weaken
Diminish someone's confidence
- dissuadeConvince not to
- deterPrevent through intimidation
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- warnGive notice of peril
caution · restrain · prevent · inhibit · impede · obstruct · thwart · disincentivize
Total absence of hope
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- despondencyProfound loss of hope
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- hopelessnessState without hope
fatalism · gloom · bleakness · helplessness · defeatism · surrender · capitulation · melancholy
dispirit
Cause to lose hope
- disheartenCause to lose hope
- dejectTo lower spirits
- deflateRelease air from
crush · daunt · unnerve · shake · sadden · dismay · dampen · depress · weaken · undermine
discourage
Diminish someone's confidence
- dissuadeConvince not to
- deterPrevent through intimidation
- intimidateInstill fear to control
warn · caution · restrain · prevent · inhibit · impede · obstruct · thwart · disincentivize · disincline
despair
Total absence of hope
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- despondencyProfound loss of hope
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
hopelessness · fatalism · gloom · bleakness · helplessness · defeatism · surrender · capitulation · melancholy · negativity
overwhelm
Defeat by excess
overpower · trounce · decimate · devastate · humble · shatter · rout · dominate · crush · annihilate
demoralize, demoralized, demoralizing, demoralization, demoralizes, demoralizer, demoralised, demoralising, demoralizers