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demonization
demonization
Noun
pl: demonizations
This term describes a strategic process of dehumanization where a target is framed not just as wrong or mistaken, but as inherently evil. It is most frequently employed in political, social, or religious discourse to create a moral justification for exclusion, hatred, or aggressive action.
While similar to "vilification," demonization carries a heavier, more supernatural or absolute connotation of "evil" rather than mere "badness." It suggests a total transformation of the target's image into a monster or a devil in the eyes of the public.