1. to make someone feel foolish or ineffective; to cause to appear stupid
Usage: formal
2. to impair or make ineffective; to hinder the development of
Usage: formal

Examples

• The rigid curriculum tends to stultify creative thinking.
• His constant criticism began to stultify her confidence.
• The bureaucratic system stultified innovation in the company.
• She felt stultified by the repetitive nature of her job.
• The teacher’s harsh methods stultified the students’ natural curiosity.
• Years of micromanagement had stultified the team’s initiative.