demonizeverb [ T ]
UK usually demonise uk/ˈdiː.mə.naɪz/us/ˈdiː.mə.naɪz/to try to make someone or a group of people seem as if they are evil:
The Nazis used racist propaganda in an attempt to demonize the Jews.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Damaging reputation
- besmirch
- black mark
- blacken
- blot
- blot your copybook idiom
- calumniate
- drag sb's name through the mire/mud idiom
- give a dog a bad name idiom
- hurl/throw/sling mud at sb idiom
- impugn
- libel
- mud
- poison
- show someone in a bad light idiom
- slander
- stab
- stain
- sully
- taint
- vilify
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