1
as in to frustrate
to lessen the courage or confidence of
I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dissuade
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discourage
This is discouraging some LNG demand and upping that of coal.
—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Pests stay where food and shelter are easy to find, so reducing both discourages them.
—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
19 June 2026
The plan also includes 114 parking spaces, which Calvo said is double the code requirement of 57, in order to discourage on-street parking among future residents.
—
Marie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
This improves air circulation around the rhizomes and discourages future rot.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Pests stay where food and shelter are easy to find, so reducing both discourages them.
—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
19 June 2026
The plan also includes 114 parking spaces, which Calvo said is double the code requirement of 57, in order to discourage on-street parking among future residents.
—
Marie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
This improves air circulation around the rhizomes and discourages future rot.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage
Verb
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Trump’s rogue moves have frustrated Thune’s party regularly over the past two months.
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David Rubenstein, the son of a Baltimore postal worker, was frustrated in a Washington law firm when he was both inspired by a wildly successful leveraged buyout and unnerved by a book that claimed the odds of successfully starting a company plummets after 37.
Verb
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The committee attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to dissuade the auditor from running.
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Pablo Andres Aguilera Mora, 46, is being held in the Santa Clara County Main Jail for criminal charges including murder, assault with a deadly weapon, dissuading a witness and contempt of court, according to court records.
Verb
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Uzbekistan, playing in its first World Cup, was not intimidated by the big stage, weathering a withering Colombia attack in a 3-1 loss.
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As a result, bodyweight exercises may feel more approachable and sustainable for beginners or even people intimidated by going to a gym.
Verb
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Growing mint near more vulnerable crops can naturally prevent slug damage and deter rabbits and deer as well.
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Some tube feeders are weight-sensitive to deter larger birds and squirrels.
Verb
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In a world where global warming fixes can seem impossibly daunting, stripper wells are the rare low-hanging fruit, said Andrew Logan of Ceres, a climate advocacy group.
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For the 23-year-old part-time student and political canvasser, moving out of her mom’s apartment in New Britain and buying an inexpensive car are daunting enough.
Verb
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But her outbursts frightened the children too.
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What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.
Cite this Entry
“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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