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.
Words nearby discourage
Origin of discourage
SYNONYMS FOR discourage
OTHER WORDS FROM discourage
synonym study for discourage
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. 2020
Examples from the Web for discouraging
British Dictionary definitions for discouraging
discourage
/ (dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ) /
verb (tr)
to deprive of the will to persist in something
to inhibit; preventthis solution discourages rust
to oppose by expressing disapproval
Derived forms of discourage
discouragement, noundiscourager, noundiscouragingly, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012