1. to portray or describe someone or something as evil or threatening
Usage: British spelling; American spelling is ‘demonize’

Examples

• The media tends to demonise young people who wear hoodies.
• Politicians often demonise their opponents during election campaigns.
• The documentary demonised the pharmaceutical industry.
• We shouldn’t demonise people who hold different political views.
• The tabloids demonised the celebrity after the scandal broke.
• Some groups try to demonise immigrants as a threat to society.