demotivate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'demotivate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe how something affects motivation or enthusiasm. For example, "John's negative attitude demotivated his team and hurt their progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Nothing will demotivate a composer more than a 100-page script dropping into his or her inbox.

The Guardian

Clever ways to share the pain can demotivate everyone, especially if they are seen as merely postponing the inevitable job cuts, making everyone fearful.Painful choicesEqually candidly, many bosses admit that the crisis is giving them a chance to restructure their firms in ways that they should have done before, but found a hard sell when things were going well.

The Economist

"Not paying them the full minimum wage will demotivate younger adults, who will get less pay than their colleagues for the same work," France O'Grady, TUC general secretary, said.

Independent

But as Richard Sennett and Jonathan Cobb pointed out long ago in "The Hidden Injuries of Class," blaming people for every aspect of their own failure can demoralize and demotivate them.

The New York Times

Equity grants may demotivate employees if they soon fall underwater.

The New York Times

However, the imagery and behaviours set by organisations can keep people away in the first place or demotivate them when they arrive.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

By ignoring or demotivating women, organisations are increasing those odds to 1 in 30.

The Guardian

Be a springboard, not a straitjacket How demotivating is it to be constantly told what not to do?

The Guardian

"To do so would have left many people above the top of their pay scale, demotivated by the knowledge that they had no hope of an increase".

The Economist

And they have demotivated people who like to feel that they are working for the public good.

The Economist

In April he defected from Mr Berisha to form an electoral pact with Mr Rama, a move which some Socialists feared had demotivated many of their supporters.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing team dynamics, use "demotivate" to describe actions or policies that decrease team members' enthusiasm and drive.

Common error

Avoid using "demotivate" when simply describing a disagreement. "Demotivate" implies a significant reduction in someone's drive or enthusiasm, not just a difference of opinion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "demotivate" is as a transitive verb. It describes the act of reducing someone's motivation or enthusiasm. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples from news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "demotivate" functions as a transitive verb indicating a reduction in enthusiasm or motivation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and use in neutral to formal contexts like news, business, and academic discussions. The examples show it's frequently used to analyze the negative impact of actions or policies. While synonyms like "discourage" and "dishearten" exist, "demotivate" is a direct term that clearly expresses reduced drive or willingness to act.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discourage

Focuses on removing courage or confidence, leading to a decrease in motivation.

dishearten

Emphasizes a loss of spirit or morale.

deject

Highlights making someone feel sad and dispirited, which can affect motivation.

undermine morale

Specifically targets the collective spirit or confidence of a group.

sap enthusiasm

Implies gradually draining someone's excitement or eagerness.

kill motivation

A more direct and forceful way of expressing a complete loss of motivation.

dampen spirits

Suggests a reduction in cheerfulness, which can indirectly reduce motivation.

weaken resolve

Focuses on diminishing someone's determination or commitment.

lower incentive

Shifts the focus to reducing the external factors that drive motivation.

stifle initiative

Indicates suppressing someone's willingness to start or pursue new things.

FAQs

How can I use "demotivate" in a sentence?

You can use "demotivate" to describe actions or situations that reduce someone's enthusiasm or motivation. For example, "The company's policy changes "demotivate"d many employees."

What is a synonym for "demotivate"?

Synonyms for "demotivate" include "discourage", "dishearten", and "deject". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "unmotivate" instead of "demotivate"?

"Demotivate" is the more standard and widely accepted term. While "unmotivate" might be understood, it is less common and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "demotivate" and "discourage"?

"Demotivate" specifically means to reduce someone's enthusiasm or drive to do something. "Discourage", on the other hand, means to dissuade someone from doing something or to make them lose confidence.