discourage
verb (used with object)
to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
has been discouraging
-
present perfect progressiveof discourage (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Other recent data has been discouraging too, with industrial profits tumbling in October in a sign of weak corporate profitability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
The reaction from the lords of the sport has been discouraging.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2023
Linda Wells, a 61-year-old retired high school administrator in San Francisco, says that defiance has been discouraging.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2021
In an interview, Enrique Tarrio, the head of the Proud Boys group, said he has been discouraging his members from attending rallies planned for Jan. 17 and through the inauguration.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 13, 2021
But this first week has been discouraging, and I have had to borrow enough from compartment two, cigar-box, to pay debts incurred by compartment one, cigar-box.
From Polly Oliver's Problem by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin
