Demonize
verb
To describe or represent someone or something as evil or bad.
Media often demonize teenagers as lazy and selfish.
Often appears as...
- demonize someone for something
- demonize in the media
verb
To make someone or something be feared or hated.
They demonize their political opponents as unpatriotic.
Often appears as...
- demonize opponents
- demonize as threat
Usage tips
Disapproving
Political
verb
To mark someone or something as a source of evil in a religious context.
Some religious groups demonize certain practices as being against the faith.
Often appears as...
- demonize in faith
- demonize practices
Usage tips
Disapproving
Religious
verb
To describe or represent someone or something as evil or bad.
Media often demonize teenagers as lazy and selfish.
Often appears as...
- demonize someone for something
- demonize in the media
verb
To make someone or something be feared or hated.
They demonize their political opponents as unpatriotic.
Often appears as...
- demonize opponents
- demonize as threat
Usage tips
Disapproving
Political
verb
To mark someone or something as a source of evil in a religious context.
Some religious groups demonize certain practices as being against the faith.
Often appears as...
- demonize in faith
- demonize practices
Usage tips
Disapproving
Religious
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Portrayal
Demonize suggests portraying someone in an especially negative light, emphasising bad qualities.
Activists claimed the company demonized protestors to discredit their cause.
Pro Tip 2/3Media Influence
When used in a media context, it means showing someone as the 'bad guy' to influence public opinion.
The documentary seemed to demonize the entire industry recklessly.
Pro Tip 3/3Exaggeration Risk
Be cautious that 'demonize' can imply an unfair or exaggerated negative depiction.
The politician complained that his opponents demonized his policies.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Portrayal
Demonize suggests portraying someone in an especially negative light, emphasising bad qualities.
Activists claimed the company demonized protestors to discredit their cause.
Pro Tip 2/3Media Influence
When used in a media context, it means showing someone as the 'bad guy' to influence public opinion.
The documentary seemed to demonize the entire industry recklessly.
Pro Tip 3/3Exaggeration Risk
Be cautious that 'demonize' can imply an unfair or exaggerated negative depiction.
The politician complained that his opponents demonized his policies.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Portrayal
Demonize suggests portraying someone in an especially negative light, emphasising bad qualities.
Activists claimed the company demonized protestors to discredit their cause.
Pro Tip 2/3Media Influence
When used in a media context, it means showing someone as the 'bad guy' to influence public opinion.
The documentary seemed to demonize the entire industry recklessly.
Pro Tip 3/3Exaggeration Risk
Be cautious that 'demonize' can imply an unfair or exaggerated negative depiction.
The politician complained that his opponents demonized his policies.
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Video examples
The climate change...
the problem in the first place leads me to three wee liberals can be our own worst enemy sometimes we think we own the high moral ground and that tends to cause us to disrespect and demonize people who are not part of the choir it also leads to a somewhat distorted worldview we're being right is
Video examples
The Story We Tell About...
Others prefer the story that poor people are helpless and probably had neglectful parents that didn't read to them enough, and if they were just told what to do and shown the right path, they could make it. For every story I hear demonizing low-income single mothers
Video examples
Sarah-Jayne Blakemore:...
They're parodied, sometimes even demonized in the media for their kind of typical teenage behavior. They take risks, they're sometimes moody, they're very self-conscious. I have a really nice anecdote from a friend of mine who said that the thing he noticed most
Video examples
The mysterious workings...
why so we we sometimes laugh about teenagers we've parodied sometimes even demonized in the media so that canta pikal teenage behavior they take risks sometimes moody they're very self-conscious I have a really nice anecdote from a friend of mine who said
Video examples
Can a divided America...
He's very germ-sensitive, so disgust does matter a lot -- more for him, that's something unique to him -- but as we demonize each other more, and again, through the Manichaean worldview, the idea that the world is a battle between good and evil
Video examples
A Black man goes...
I have spent so much time defending myself against attempts to demonize me and make me apologize for who I am, trying to portray me as something that I'm not, some kind of thug or gangster, a menace to society. Unexpected compassion. Wow.
Video examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson on...
ways it's a champion in some circles and he's demonized in others and so I just thought we should unpack that and see what are the forces operating here and what I even challenged him I said are you a little too harsh here can you will
Video examples
The harm reduction model...
There would be changes in legislation, and we would be supporting the victims and their families. But for the drug overdose epidemic, we have done none of that. We continue to demonize the drugs and the people who use them
Video examples
How to make stress your...
this is my body helping me rise to this challenge. And when you view stress in that way, your body believes you, and your stress response becomes healthier. Now I said I have over a decade of demonizing stress
Video examples
Take "the Other" to...
And we need to do their work now. I'm deeply disturbed by the ways in which all of our cultures are demonizing "the other," by the voice we're giving to the most divisive among us.
Video examples
The climate change...
the problem in the first place leads me to three wee liberals can be our own worst enemy sometimes we think we own the high moral ground and that tends to cause us to disrespect and demonize people who are not part of the choir it also leads to a somewhat distorted worldview we're being right is
Video examples
The Story We Tell About...
Others prefer the story that poor people are helpless and probably had neglectful parents that didn't read to them enough, and if they were just told what to do and shown the right path, they could make it. For every story I hear demonizing low-income single mothers
Video examples
Sarah-Jayne Blakemore:...
They're parodied, sometimes even demonized in the media for their kind of typical teenage behavior. They take risks, they're sometimes moody, they're very self-conscious. I have a really nice anecdote from a friend of mine who said that the thing he noticed most
Video examples
The mysterious workings...
why so we we sometimes laugh about teenagers we've parodied sometimes even demonized in the media so that canta pikal teenage behavior they take risks sometimes moody they're very self-conscious I have a really nice anecdote from a friend of mine who said
Video examples
Can a divided America...
He's very germ-sensitive, so disgust does matter a lot -- more for him, that's something unique to him -- but as we demonize each other more, and again, through the Manichaean worldview, the idea that the world is a battle between good and evil
Video examples
A Black man goes...
I have spent so much time defending myself against attempts to demonize me and make me apologize for who I am, trying to portray me as something that I'm not, some kind of thug or gangster, a menace to society. Unexpected compassion. Wow.
Video examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson on...
ways it's a champion in some circles and he's demonized in others and so I just thought we should unpack that and see what are the forces operating here and what I even challenged him I said are you a little too harsh here can you will
Video examples
The harm reduction model...
There would be changes in legislation, and we would be supporting the victims and their families. But for the drug overdose epidemic, we have done none of that. We continue to demonize the drugs and the people who use them
Video examples
How to make stress your...
this is my body helping me rise to this challenge. And when you view stress in that way, your body believes you, and your stress response becomes healthier. Now I said I have over a decade of demonizing stress
Video examples
Take "the Other" to...
And we need to do their work now. I'm deeply disturbed by the ways in which all of our cultures are demonizing "the other," by the voice we're giving to the most divisive among us.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Foster Friess
American Businessman
If we really want to cherish religious freedom, people who want to believe that same-sex marriage should take place, they have a right to believe that, and people who want to believe it's inappropriate, we should not demonize those people - if we really believe in religious liberty.
Quote examples
Madeleine M. Kunin
American Diplomat
Our right to disagree is precious but fragile. The best way to protect and preserve it is to let the other side speak without demonizing them or destroying their right to be heard. Such civil exchanges are the heart beat of democracy - essential to keeping it alive.
Quote examples
Steve Scalise
American Politician
When everybody goes into their separate corners, it's just real easy to demonize the other side instead of saying, 'Okay, how can we come together and figure out how to get done what's important for the country?
Quote examples
Mehdi Hasan
British Journalist
When you demonize Muslims as a community, as an entire group of people based on the crimes or actions of a tiny minority within that community, you have very worrying, real world effects.
Quote examples
Warren Farrell
American Writer
Throughout my life I have always been amazed that people couldn't listen to other people, that they couldn't hear their best intent, that there seemed to be an enormous need to demonize.
Quote examples
Mike Braun
American Politician
While I will never demonize those who disagree with me, the Hoosier values instilled in me from a young age have always inspired me to protect life and the unborn.
Quote examples
Erin O'Toole
Canadian Politician
The Trudeau government increasingly avoids debate on important national issues by demonizing people who disagree with them.
Quote examples
John Kennedy
American Lawyer
There are some members of the House leadership whose only mission in life is to demonize the president.
Quote examples
Greg Boyle
American Clergyman
We ought not to demonize a single gang member, and we ought not to romanticize a single gang.
Quote examples
Josephine Langford
Australian Actress
I loved seeing a lead female character who isn't perfect and isn't demonized for it.
Quote examples
Foster Friess
American Businessman
If we really want to cherish religious freedom, people who want to believe that same-sex marriage should take place, they have a right to believe that, and people who want to believe it's inappropriate, we should not demonize those people - if we really believe in religious liberty.
Quote examples
Madeleine M. Kunin
American Diplomat
Our right to disagree is precious but fragile. The best way to protect and preserve it is to let the other side speak without demonizing them or destroying their right to be heard. Such civil exchanges are the heart beat of democracy - essential to keeping it alive.
Quote examples
Steve Scalise
American Politician
When everybody goes into their separate corners, it's just real easy to demonize the other side instead of saying, 'Okay, how can we come together and figure out how to get done what's important for the country?
Quote examples
Mehdi Hasan
British Journalist
When you demonize Muslims as a community, as an entire group of people based on the crimes or actions of a tiny minority within that community, you have very worrying, real world effects.
Quote examples
Warren Farrell
American Writer
Throughout my life I have always been amazed that people couldn't listen to other people, that they couldn't hear their best intent, that there seemed to be an enormous need to demonize.
Quote examples
Mike Braun
American Politician
While I will never demonize those who disagree with me, the Hoosier values instilled in me from a young age have always inspired me to protect life and the unborn.
Quote examples
Erin O'Toole
Canadian Politician
The Trudeau government increasingly avoids debate on important national issues by demonizing people who disagree with them.
Quote examples
John Kennedy
American Lawyer
There are some members of the House leadership whose only mission in life is to demonize the president.
Quote examples
Greg Boyle
American Clergyman
We ought not to demonize a single gang member, and we ought not to romanticize a single gang.
Quote examples
Josephine Langford
Australian Actress
I loved seeing a lead female character who isn't perfect and isn't demonized for it.
Example 1 of 10
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