demonize
verb
de·mon·ize
ˈdē-mə-ˌnīz 
demonized; demonizing; demonizes
: to portray (someone or something) as evil or as worthy of contempt or blame : vilify
But the Senate hearings have a broader purpose than exposing I.R.S. sins. They are a central element in a campaign by Congressional Republicans to demonize the tax agency, already the least loved of all Government bureaucracies.—
John M. Broder
John M. BroderThe point is not to demonize business leaders. Their reasons for not hiring make eminent sense, given the incentives of the marketplace and the imperative to remain competitive.—Zachary Karabell
Zachary KarabellViolence in the media has become the whipping boy of choice in these hypocritical times. It's easier to demonize a movie screen than to deal with the thorny issues of crime, racism, drugs, poverty and gun control.—Peter Travers
Peter TraversFor those who would forge a new environmental ethic, there is a constant temptation to demonize technology and deify nature.—Gina Maranto
Gina Maranto
demonization
noun
plural demonizations
In the Washington of Clinton and Gingrich, Dole and Buchanan, … the demonization of one's political foes has reached an epic frenzy.
—Stryker McGuire and David Ansen
Stryker McGuire and David Ansen
Examples of demonize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, environmentalists have spent decades demonizing it, shutting down plants, and blocking projects.
—Rob Sisson and Danielle Franz, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Booker also discussed possible cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, the elimination of funding for research and science, the far-right’s campaign to demonize and deport immigrants, the removal of US history lessons about women and people of color, and attacks on free speech at universities.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
While such generalizations have historically been used to demonize enemies, there is still a contrived tendency to divide the world into land and sea powers.
—Colin Flint, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
However, the movie’s framing has widespread contemporary resonance, and an enormous overlap with how trans issues are discussed, particularly in how individuals who deviate from strict gender norms are so readily demonized by others.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025
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Rob Sisson and Danielle Franz, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Booker also discussed possible cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, the elimination of funding for research and science, the far-right’s campaign to demonize and deport immigrants, the removal of US history lessons about women and people of color, and attacks on free speech at universities.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
While such generalizations have historically been used to demonize enemies, there is still a contrived tendency to divide the world into land and sea powers.
—Colin Flint, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
However, the movie’s framing has widespread contemporary resonance, and an enormous overlap with how trans issues are discussed, particularly in how individuals who deviate from strict gender norms are so readily demonized by others.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demonize
Cite this Entry
“Demonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demonize. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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