disempower

Verb

disempower (third-person singular simple present disempowers, present participle disempowering, simple past and past participle disempowered)

1. To remove morale or self-confidence from (someone or some group) to do something.
   • A powerful head can sometimes disempower the teaching staff, and create among them a sort of passivity that is close to inertia.1990, Editors: Tim Brighouse and Bob Moon, Managing the National Curriculum, Harlow: Longman Group UK Ltd, page 97

   Synonyms:

   dishearten, dispirit, demoralize, demotivate, enervate

   Antonyms:

   empower, hearten, inspire, motivate

2. To remove authority or (official) confidence from (someone or some group) to do something (such as administer a state function), as by demoting, disestablishing, or unincorporating a group.
   • The reformation disempowered the established church and thus roiled the aristocracy.

   Antonyms:

   empower, establish, install