Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| desmoralizar | /desmoɾaliˈθaɾ/ /desmoɾaliˈsaɾ/ |
|
| comer la moral | /komeɾ la moɾal/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial |
To demoralize means to destroy morale or to dishearten someone. You can use the verb desmoralizar to describe the process of causing someone to lose their spirit or confidence. The related adjective desmoralizado can be used to describe a person or group that has been demoralized.
Which one should you use?
While desmoralizar refers directly to the psychological state of losing morale, the colloquial phrase comer la moral is used more figuratively to describe the act of wearing down or eroding someone's confidence or spirit.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you need a more formal way to say "to discourage" or "to demoralize," you may use desalentar. Conversely, comer la moral is a colloquial expression used in informal or heated contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Desmoralizar is a regular -ar verb, meaning it follows standard conjugation patterns, such as desmoralizaré for the first-person singular future tense ("I will demoralize").
How do you pronounce it?
/desmoɾaliˈθaɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word moral can double as a noun for a person's ethical compass. This means a sentence about 'demoralizing' someone might be misinterpreted as a discussion about their integrity rather than their mood.
- The word desmoralizar shares a common root with the Latin 'mōs', which refers to 'custom' or 'manner'. This connects the concept of psychological spirit back to social habits and laws.
Examples in context
- La derrota del equipo visitante desmoralizó a los jugadores locales.The defeat of the visiting team demoralized the local players.
- Las dificultades económicas pueden desalentar los proyectos empresariales.Economic difficulties can demoralize entrepreneurial ventures.
- El rechazo de su propuesta desanimó a Juan durante un tiempo.The rejection of his proposal demoralized Juan for a while.
- Las críticas constantes le bajaron la moral al estudiante.Constant criticism demoralized the student.
- Esas noticias van a desmoralizar al equipo.That news is going to demoralize the team.
- El fracaso puede desmoralizar a los estudiantes.Failure can demoralize students.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a difficult work project.
- MateoEstoy muy cansado, esto me empieza a desmoralizar.I'm very tired, this is starting to demoralize me.
- MaríaNo te rindas ahora, Mateo, ya casi terminamos.Don't give up now, Mateo, we are almost finished.
- MateoEs que los errores constantes son frustrantes.It's just that the constant errors are frustrating.
- MaríaLo sé, pero no permitas que eso te desmoralice.I know, but don't let that dishearten you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “demoralize” translations and entries desmoralizar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comer, la, moral, CC BY-SA 4.0.
