discourage [dih-skur -ij, -skuhr -]
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for discourage on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
verb (used without object), dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing. to become discouraged: a person who discourages easily. Show More
Origin of discourage 1400–50; late Middle English discoragen <
Middle French descorager, Old French descoragier. See
dis-1 ,
courage Related forms dis·cour·ag·er , noun dis·cour·age·a·ble , adjective dis·cour·ag·ing·ly , adverb o·ver·dis·cour·age , verb (used with object), o·ver·dis·cour·aged, o·ver·dis·cour·ag·ing. pre·dis·cour·age , verb (used with object), pre·dis·cour·aged, pre·dis·cour·ag·ing. un·dis·cour·age·a·ble , adjective un·dis·cour·aged , adjective un·dis·cour·ag·ing , adjective un·dis·cour·ag·ing·ly , adverb 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. 2018
Related Words for discouraging disappointing ,
dreary ,
depressing ,
gloomy ,
dismal ,
dispiriting ,
bleak ,
disheartening ,
black ,
deterring ,
dissuading ,
daunting ,
hindering ,
disadvantageous ,
inopportune ,
oppressive ,
unfavorable ,
unpropitious ,
depressive Examples from the Web for discouraging Contemporary Examples of discouraging What followed was a very strange and discouraging series of events.
It seemed to me a miracle that I never heard a discouraging word from my editor, Susan Murcko.
Doing so perpetuates the stigma of mental disorder, discouraging persons with mental disorders from seeking care.
In politics every candidate wants to build a sense of inevitability, inspiring his admirers and discouraging his detractors.
So it is discouraging that conservatives may not even want to take the first step down that path.
Historical Examples of discouraging Low-lying alligator, evading the eyesight and discouraging hope!
Burnside's repulse at Fredericksburg was followed by a discouraging retreat.
But it is so discouraging a thing to have my monitress so very good!
Bitter taunts for the past, and discouraging views of the future?
And yet, when we wrote to our friends who were watching, their answer was most discouraging .
British Dictionary definitions for discouraging to deprive of the will to persist in something to inhibit; prevent this solution discourages rust to oppose by expressing disapproval Show More
Derived Forms discouragement , noun discourager , noun discouragingly , adverb Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for discouraging v. mid-15c., discoragen , from Middle French descourager , from Old French descoragier , from des- "away" (see dis- ) + corage (see courage ). Related: Discouraged ; discouragement ; discouraging .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
