Demoralized

Demoralized describes a state of having lost confidence, hope, and enthusiasm; a feeling of discouragement or despondency. It suggests a significant reduction in morale, often due to setbacks, failures, injustices, or overwhelming odds. The feeling of being Demoralized can lead to a loss of motivation, a diminished sense of purpose, and a general feeling of negativity towards a situation or goal. This emotional state can impact an individual's ability to perform, collaborate, or maintain a positive outlook on life and it can affect groups of people as well as individual people.

Demoralized meaning with examples

• The team was deeply Demoralized after losing the championship game, with players slumped in the locker room, their dreams dashed. They struggled to find the motivation to practice during the following weeks. Their morale had plummeted because of how well they prepared, but ultimately didn't succeed. The coach had to work overtime to help them refocus. They all felt as though they had failed despite the outstanding effort they gave.
• The soldiers, exhausted and facing constant ambushes, became Demoralized by the prolonged conflict and the lack of clear objectives. The conditions in the field were beyond unbearable. Many began to question the purpose of the war and their will to fight. These were trying times, but for those soldiers it would be difficult for them to see the end and come out ok from the situation.
• After months of fruitless job applications, Sarah became increasingly Demoralized, leading to a decrease in her self-esteem and an avoidance of even applying for jobs. Her spirits were down due to no success. She considered herself a failure. Her friends tried to convince her to keep going, but she had almost no energy to do it anymore.
• The company's employees felt Demoralized after the sudden announcement of widespread layoffs. They were afraid for their families and had not the slightest clue on how they would survive. The uncertainty and fear about the future shattered their sense of job security and trust in management. Productivity fell because there was no joy in coming to work.