discourage
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
- Antonyms:
- encourage
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to dissuade (usually followed byfrom ).
-
to obstruct by opposition or difficulty; hinder.
Low prices discourage industry.
-
to express or make clear disapproval of; frown upon.
to discourage the expression of enthusiasm.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to deprive of the will to persist in something
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to inhibit; prevent
this solution discourages rust
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to oppose by expressing disapproval
Related Words
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 Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of discourage
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English discoragen, from Middle French descorager, Old French descoragier; see dis- 1, courage
Explanation
If your friend is thinking about quitting her job and moving to the Peruvian Andes to raise llamas, you might discourage her by pointing out that she’s allergic to llamas and also afraid of heights. When you discourage someone, you try to talk them out of doing something, by pointing out reasons why their planned action would be unwise. The verb discourage has roots in the French word descouragier, which comes from des-, meaning “away,” and corage, or “courage.” So when you discourage someone, you can think of it as taking his courage — or enthusiasm — away.
Vocabulary lists containing discourage
"Creativity at Work" and "The Hidden Secrets of the Creative Mind"
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"Curtis Aikens and the American Dream" and "Go For It!"
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List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appeared in the March 25, 2026, print edition as 'AI Titans Work Hard to Discourage Working'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Spencer the hawk’s job: Discourage other birds that might dirty the gleaming, glass building.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2021
Discourage bad actors by seeking out and rewarding the good ones with your business.
From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2019
Discourage people from telling you jokes; don't laugh.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Discourage your prodigy, check her influence, and believe me, very sincerely your friend, "Georgina Courtenay.
From Luttrell Of Arran Complete by Lever, Charles James
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
