Immoralizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Characterized by the act of instilling or promoting unethical behavior or beliefs
2. pertaining to the process of making actions or attitudes that disregard moral principles seem acceptable
3. relating to the encouragement of conduct that conflicts with established moral standards

Etymology: "Immoralizing" is the present participle of "immoralize," which is formed from "immoral" with the verbal suffix "-ize," meaning to make or to treat in a particular way. The base word "immoral" joins the negative prefix "im-" to "moral," so the verb literally means to make something not moral, or to cause someone to lose their ethical bearings. The suffix "-ize" comes to English through Latin and Greek, where it turned nouns and adjectives into verbs of making or doing, as in "realize" or "civilize." Attaching it to "immoral" produces a verb that describes an action rather than a state: a person or influence that is immoralizing others is actively working to corrupt them. The word's use is a straightforward English construction, with its parts all well documented, so its meaning follows directly from the pieces.

Synonyms: corrupting, depraving, demoralizing, debauching, perverting

Antonyms: moralizing, uplifting, inspiring, ennobling, purifying