discourage
verb (used with object)
to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
had discouraged
-
past perfectof discourage.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Only six weeks ago, Chairman Jerome Powell had discouraged hopes that such a cut would arrive before the holiday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
Bankman-Fried’s lawyers had discouraged him from appearing, he said.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2022
Many cities had discouraged out-of-town investors from buying homes until now, so as to make apartments less expensive for longtime residents.
From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2022
Back home, he said, his father had discouraged schooling, putting his son to work on the family plot of cassava, oranges and mangoes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2021
Tam Lin, who let Matt do quite a few dangerous things, had discouraged swimming here because the bottom was murky with unexpected depths.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
