Synonyms

dishearten

American

[dis-hahr-tn] / dɪsˈhɑr tn /

verb (used with object)

to depress the hope, courage, or spirits of; discourage.

Synonyms:

dismay, dispirit, deject, daunt

dishearten British

/ dɪsˈhɑːtən /

verb

(tr) to weaken or destroy the hope, courage, enthusiasm, etc, of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

disheartener noun
dishearteningly adverb
disheartenment noun

Etymology

Origin of dishearten

First recorded in 1590–1600; dis- ¹ + hearten

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.

Mannani accepts that her lawyers are entitled to a cut for their work on the case, but said she was disheartened watching the numbers of cases suddenly skyrocket this year.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Rose said he was "disheartened" by Theo's experience and said it was the first time in his 30-year career he had "seen this side of policing".

From BBC

The news was good, but also disheartening: Toyota Motor was planning to build its first stand-alone factory in the U.S., but her state wasn’t in consideration.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ashley Maggs, Jersey Airport's operations director, said the situation was disheartening but that it was working to ensure people travelling were not displaced.

From BBC

A pair of jeans could easily be a size 10 by one brand and a size 14 in another, leaving customers confused and disheartened.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023