disheartening

[dis-hahr-tn-ing]

adjective

1. depressing a person’s hope, courage, or spirits; discouraging.

   It's been disheartening to see some of her old habits and fears returning, even though they aren't as bad as when she was much younger.

Other Word Forms

• dishearteningly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of disheartening¹

dishearten ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

"It would be disheartening if the removal of alleged fugitives to Britain put ordinary citizens at increased risk of being sent the other way," she added.

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That is disheartening, but it also explains why Emmys producers chose such an aggressive strategy to curtail speeches.

Read more on Salon

And if your attitude is that you don't and that we are, in fact, scamming the system in some way, then it's so disheartening.

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“There are many levels to this but what’s so disheartening is to see the few wealthy elite say, ‘We got ours.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“A lot of these folks are contributors to our community and to our neighborhoods, so it’s just disheartening,” Leon said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• frightful 
• ghastly 
• harrowing 
• hideous 
• horrible 
• horrific 
• shocking 
• terrible 
• terrifying