discourage

[ dih-skur-ij, -skuhr- ]
See synonyms for: discouragediscourageddiscouragesdiscouraging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing.
  1. to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.

  2. to dissuade (usually followed by from).

  1. to obstruct by opposition or difficulty; hinder: Low prices discourage industry.

  2. to express or make clear disapproval of; frown upon: to discourage the expression of enthusiasm.

verb (used without object),dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing.
  1. to become discouraged: a person who discourages easily.

Origin of discourage

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English discoragen, from Middle French descorager, Old French descoragier; see dis-1, courage

synonym study For discourage

1. Discourage, dismay, intimidate mean to dishearten or frighten. To discourage is to dishearten by expressing disapproval or by suggesting that a contemplated action or course will probably fail: He was discouraged from going into business. To dismay is to dishearten completely: Her husband's philandering dismayed her. To intimidate is to frighten, as by threats of force, violence, or dire consequences: to intimidate a witness.

Other words for discourage

Opposites for discourage

Other words from discourage

  • dis·cour·ag·er, noun
  • dis·cour·age·a·ble, adjective
  • dis·cour·ag·ing·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·dis·cour·age, verb (used with object), o·ver·dis·cour·aged, o·ver·dis·cour·ag·ing.
  • pre·dis·cour·age, verb (used with object), pre·dis·cour·aged, pre·dis·cour·ag·ing.
  • un·dis·cour·age·a·ble, adjective
  • un·dis·cour·ag·ing, adjective
  • un·dis·cour·ag·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby discourage

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use discourage in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discourage

discourage

/ (dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ) /


verb(tr)
  1. to deprive of the will to persist in something

  2. to inhibit; prevent: this solution discourages rust

  1. to oppose by expressing disapproval

Derived forms of discourage

  • discouragement, noun
  • discourager, noun
  • discouragingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012