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
Already discouraged developers will not exactly be lured back by the new tenant protections and expanded rent-stabilization laws that Lewis George is proposing.
—
Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Platforms are required to improve user safety, discourage excessive use and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.
—Eileen Ng, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Topazio created The Rosin Box Project in 2018, after her mentors and teachers discouraged a career in the arts.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
During Victor's childhood, Félix and Elodie tried to keep his life as stable as possible, prioritizing schoolwork before basketball and discouraging preferential treatment, per The New York Times.
—Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Platforms are required to improve user safety, discourage excessive use and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.
—Eileen Ng, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Topazio created The Rosin Box Project in 2018, after her mentors and teachers discouraged a career in the arts.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
During Victor's childhood, Félix and Elodie tried to keep his life as stable as possible, prioritizing schoolwork before basketball and discouraging preferential treatment, per The New York Times.
—Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage
Verb
-
Part of what fascinates and frustrates as regards Ginsberg is that for all of those thick anthologies, propriety forces me to concede that many of the poems simply aren’t that good.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Some voters frustrated by gubernatorial race Tuesday was shaping up to be a busy day at the polls inside the brown brick Coloma Community Center.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Several recent papers suggest that the rent-control scheme might even be making the housing shortage worse in some places by causing landlords to take units off the rental market and dissuading developers from building.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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That’s an enticing bargain at any time, although long lines sometimes dissuade customers, especially when gas is inexpensive.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Russia has used escalation rhetoric to intimidate Washington and Europe into self-deterrence since the war began.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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If anyone attempts to intimidate, disrupt, harass, or threaten the marchers or their supporters Sunday — they will be arrested, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.—
Elliot Cosgrove,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The idea of enduring the ingredient’s acclimation phase, which can result in flaking, redness, and dryness as skin gets used to its power, has deterred me.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
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Plants like daffodils, hyacinths, and marigolds are flowers that deter squirrels because of their bright flowers, taste, and smells that squirrels don't like.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Looking at the digital thread in its entirety can be daunting, but building it in a piece-by-piece fashion helps manage the complexity.—
John Clemons,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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How to get to the beach Gaspee Point is home to a private cottage colony with a gatehouse, which can be daunting for visitors.—
Antonia Noori Farzan,
The Providence Journal,
27 May 2026
Verb
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But the future Hall of Famer is coming off ACL surgery, might lack mobility, and has a receiving corps that frightens nobody.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
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This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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