demotivate

IPA/ˌdiːˈməʊtɪveɪt/
IPA/ˌdiːˈməʊtɪveɪt/

demotivate — verb

  • demotivatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • demotivateshe / she / it
  • demotivatedpast simple
  • demotivating-ing form

1. to cause someone to lose the desire or enthusiasm they once had for a task, job,

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to cause someone to lose the desire or enthusiasm they once had for a task, job, or area of study — for example, when unfair criticism, bad working conditions, or repeated failure makes a person stop wanting to try.

例句

The constant overtime with no extra pay began to demotivate the whole warehouse team.

demotivate + whole team as direct object

Sora felt demotivated after the manager criticised his presentation in front of everyone.

passive: felt demotivated after [trigger event]

同義詞
  • discourage

    more general; can be milder and often about a specific action rather than a lasting state

  • dishearten

    more emotional; suggests a loss of hope rather than just enthusiasm

  • dampen morale

    a phrasal alternative that focuses on group spirit rather than individual drive

反義詞
  • motivate

    the direct opposite; to give someone a reason or enthusiasm to act

  • encourage

    focuses on giving active support rather than creating internal drive

文法句型

demotivate + noun phrase (the person)

用法筆記

Commonly used in the passive (get demotivated / feel demotivated) or with a cause introduced by when or because. The subject is often an impersonal situation (a system, repeated failure) rather than a person.

常見錯誤

❌The bad news demotivated me to study.
✅The bad news demotivated me and I stopped studying.
💡demotivate describes a result (loss of motivation), not a direction or goal; use a second clause to show the outcome.
❌He demotivated the meeting.
✅He demotivated the team with his negative comments.
💡demotivate takes a person or group as object, not an event.