Demonize

/ˈdiːmənaɪz/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to portray someone or something as wicked or threatening.

The media often tends to demonize politicians during election season.

to make a demon or evil spirit of.

Historically, certain cultures would demonize rivals by attributing supernatural qualities to them.

to vilify or cast in a negative light.

Critics warned that to demonize those who oppose the policy undermines constructive dialogue.

to attribute evil or malicious intent to.

It is easy to demonize someone when we only hear one side of the story.

to turn someone into a figure of hatred or revulsion.

His actions had been misrepresented to demonize him in the public eye.

Derived from the word 'demon' combined with the suffix '-ize'.

demonize the opposition

To portray opposing views or their proponents as evil or malevolent.

demonized figure

A person who has been portrayed negatively, often in the media.

demon

A supernatural being often associated with evil.

demonology

The study of demons or beliefs about demons.

To make someone out to be the bad guy.

After the scandal, they tried to demonize him to distract from their own issues.

To exaggerate a person's negative traits.

They really demonize her just because she disagrees with them.