discourage
[ dih-skur-ij, -skuhr- ]
/ dɪˈskɜr ɪdʒ, -ˈskʌr- /
verb (used with object), dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing.
to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
to dissuade (usually followed by from).
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), dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing.
to become discouraged: a person who discourages easily.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
depressed, pessimistic, crestfallen, dismayed, blue, down, dispirited, beat, dashed, deterred, daunted, downbeat, downcast, glum, sad, beat-down
Nearby words
- discount rate,
- discount store,
- discounted cash flow,
- discountenance,
- discounter,
- discouragement,
- discourse,
- discourse analysis,
- discourteous,
- discourtesy
Origin of discourage
SYNONYMS FOR discourage
Synonym study
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for discouraged
discourage
/ (dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ) /
verb (tr)
to deprive of the will to persist in something
to inhibit; preventthis solution discourages rust
to oppose by expressing disapproval
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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discourage
mid-15c., discoragen, from Middle French descourager, from Old French descoragier, from des- "away" (see dis-) + corage (see courage). Related: Discouraged; discouragement; discouraging.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper