discouragement

[ dih-skur-ij-muhnt, -skuhr- ]

/ dɪˈskɜr ɪdʒ mənt, -ˈskʌr- /

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noun

an act or instance of discouraging.

the state of being discouraged.

something that discourages: Poor health and poverty are grave discouragements.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

discount store, discounted cash flow, discountenance, discounter, discourage, discouragement, discourse, discourse analysis, discourteous, discourtesy, discover

Origin of discouragement

1555–65; < Middle French descouragement, Old French descoragement. See discourage, -ment

SYNONYMS FOR discouragement

2 depression, dejection, hopelessness.

3 deterrent, damper, impediment, obstacle, obstruction.

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ANTONYMS FOR discouragement

1–3 encouragement.

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Related forms

o·ver·dis·cour·age·ment, nounpre·dis·cour·age·ment, noun

Synonym study

2. See despair.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for discouragement

She had come, walking fearlessly in her darkened world, to him in his darkened world of discouragement and bitterness.
The Hidden Places|Bertrand W. Sinclair
She had eaten nothing since dawn, she had travelled very far and with this discouragement the pain in her arm came back.
The Fifth Queen|Ford Madox Ford
I think there is no particular cause for discouragement on this account, as we have the same experience with peach trees.
Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the|Various
With a gesture of discouragement, Paula sank down on a chair.
John Marsh's Millions|Charles Klein

Those were days of discouragement as our labor seemed to be in vain.
American Missionary, Volume XLII. No. 11. November 1888|Various