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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discourage
For example, when Winfrey wanted to head to Chicago, where competing daytime talk-show host Phil Donahue was also based, people discouraged her from making the jump and potentially losing viewers.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
This can discourage young researchers from entering or staying in the field.
—Zeynep Hasgül, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Summer pruning helps remove lanky growth and improve airflow to discourage disease and pests.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Kirk promoted dialogue and forums at countless colleges prior, part of a greater effort to educate and mobilize a generation discouraged by current affairs.
—Alex Rosado, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
This can discourage young researchers from entering or staying in the field.
—Zeynep Hasgül, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Summer pruning helps remove lanky growth and improve airflow to discourage disease and pests.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Kirk promoted dialogue and forums at countless colleges prior, part of a greater effort to educate and mobilize a generation discouraged by current affairs.
—Alex Rosado, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage
Verb
-
Ciccone was frustrated to find research was largely focused on boys.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
It’s left supporters on Capitol Hill delighted, frustrated, or wondering what’s next.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sumpter was charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including assault likely to produce great bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury and dissuading a witness, Butte County public records show.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Which means the team can find plenty of buyers willing to fill the void if there are any longtime Broncomaniacs dissuaded from paying for a PSL.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump administration members are going in a different direction, pressing for investigations of left-leaning groups that appear designed to intimidate, if not prosecute.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Dealing with debt collectors is a high-stress and intimidating experience.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That being said, the marginal increase hasn’t been enough to deter investors from their dovish hopes.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
-
States’ restitution penalties are established to deter poaching, but also to ensure the wildlife agency is reimbursed for the loss of a poached trophy animal.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What’s more, a lot of Americans still have mortgage rates that are low enough to make the idea of a move daunting, and affordability overall hasn’t improved much even as the economy has softened.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The challenges are enormous, the hurdles daunting, the giants advantaged—but that’s what makes the opportunity so electric.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Judy Hernandez’ husband Raul, a co-founder of the community group the Resurrection Project, dismissed those plans as a political stunt geared to create fear and frighten Spanish-speaking people.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Many of us are conditioned to think that our ultimate goal in life is to be with someone, so much so, that the mere thought of being alone frightens us.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share