discouragement
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of discouraging.
- Antonyms:
- encouragement
-
the state of being discouraged.
- Synonyms:
- hopelessness, dejection, depression
- Antonyms:
- encouragement
-
something that discourages.
Poor health and poverty are grave discouragements.
- Synonyms:
- obstruction, obstacle, impediment, damper, deterrent
- Antonyms:
- encouragement
Related Words
See despair.
Other Word Forms
- overdiscouragement noun
- prediscouragement noun
Etymology
Origin of discouragement
1555–65; < Middle French descouragement, Old French descoragement. See discourage, -ment
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.
The moments of discouragement are so heavy in this industry.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025
I want to address the discouragement and fear that many who care about democracy and peace and human rights are feeling in America and around the world right now.
From Salon • Feb. 6, 2025
They got 40 before discouragement, exhaustion, and, eventually, a torrential downpour forced the group to disband.
From Slate • Oct. 30, 2024
“But discouragement isn’t an Ivorian thing,” Mr. Samaké quickly added, now back at work.
From New York Times • Feb. 7, 2024
Confident that he was clever, resourceful, and bold enough to escape any predicament, he was almost incapable of discouragement.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
