Dictionary

demonize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈdiːmənaɪz/ (UK)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Medieval Latin daemonizō, from daemon + -izō. Compare Ancient Greek δαιμονίζομαι (daimonízomai, “to be possessed by a demon”), from δαίμων (daímōn, “demon”). By surface analysis, demon + -ize.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To turn into a demon.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To describe or represent as evil or diabolic, usually falsely.
   • Many people disagree with several things society has normalized, some of which are even demonized. Frustratingly, attaching a stigma to perfectly reasonable things makes people feel attacked when they publicly do them. Here are 18 things that society has unfairly demonized that should be considered normal. 2024 May 11, Isabella Sylvester, “18 Things Society Has Demonized That Should Be Considered Normal”, in MSN, archived from the original on 16 May 2024:
   • It brags “we can replace them”—and gaslights and demonizes those who notice and object to being replaced. 2023 July 21, Michael Anton, “The Pessimistic Case for the Future”, in Compact, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2024:
   • He calls for a “massive, urgent recruitment effort,” which is a fine idea, but one that’s likely to be futile unless we stop demonizing teachers and start paying them fairly. 2022 October 3, Michelle Goldberg, “Boys and Men Are in Crisis Because Society Is”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 21 Mar 2023:
   • President Trump has seized on the response in the streets to police brutality against Black men and women to bolster his re-election campaign, employing provocative and sometimes incendiary language and images to incite his followers, demonize his opponents or both. 2020 September 1, Peter Baker, “Trump has a long history of language that incites and demonizes.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 08 Sep 2020:

Forms

Antonyms

angelize · angelify

Deriveds

demonizer · dedemonize · demonization · undemonized · redemonize · demonizable

Synonyms

vilipend · foul · talk shit · blur · disrepute · deprave · monsterize · blame · chat shit · denigrate · befoul · lampoon · torch · reproach · depreciate · asperse · besmirch · revile · unflatter · villainize · bewray · stab · demonify · assassinate · dirty · vilify · smear · belibel · smirch · forspeak · infamize · monsterize · wrong · slander · disgrace · disparage · spot · demonize · badmouth · trash-talk · libel · scandal · tarnish · talk trash · cloud · blacken · chat shite · drag through the mud · malign · blot · discredit · defame · traduce · blaze · muddy · detract · blemish · besmear · villainize · slag · sully · diabolize · forgab · calumniate · diss · vilify · monster · speak ill of · talk shite · spatter · shit-talk · stain · backbite · calumny

Translations (41)

cmn 妖魔化 (describe or represent as evil) · uk демонізо́вувати (describe or represent as evil) · it demonizzare (turn into a demon) · ca demonitzar (describe or represent as evil) · pl diabolizować (describe or represent as evil) · hi असुरीकरण (describe or represent as evil) · ro demoniza (describe or represent as evil) · sh demonizovati (turn into a demon) · es demonizar (describe or represent as evil) · cs démonizovat (describe or represent as evil) · fi muuttaa demoniksi (turn into a demon) · gl demonizar (describe or represent as evil) · et kurjaks vaimuks muutma (turn into a demon) · ja 悪魔化 (describe or represent as evil) · fi muuttaa pahoialseksi (turn into a demon) · pt demonizar (describe or represent as evil) · ru демонизи́ровать (turn into a demon) · be дэманізаваць (describe or represent as evil) · de dämonisieren (describe or represent as evil) · fi demonisoida (describe or represent as evil) · uk демонізува́ти (describe or represent as evil) · fr démoniser (turn into a demon) · fr diaboliser (turn into a demon) · sv svärta ned (turn into a demon) · de dämonisieren (turn into a demon) · id ibliskan (describe or represent as evil) · pl demonizować (turn into a demon) · de verteufeln (describe or represent as evil) · el δαιμονοποιώ (describe or represent as evil) · ru демонизи́ровать (describe or represent as evil) · nl demoniseren (describe or represent as evil) · pl demonizować (describe or represent as evil) · vi biến thành quỷ (turn into a demon) · fr diaboliser (describe or represent as evil) · el δαιμονοποιώ (turn into a demon) · sh демонизовати (turn into a demon) · kmr dêw kirin (turn into a demon) · it demonizzare (describe or represent as evil) · ro demoniza (turn into a demon) · sv demonisera (describe or represent as evil) · bg демонизирам (turn into a demon)