DISCOURAGE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

discourage

verb

di-ˈskər-ij

Definition of discourage

as in to frustrate

to lessen the courage or confidence of I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Much like the journalism injury, which is suffering from Google discouraging users from clicking on links with its AI Overview feature, advertisers are struggling to control the shopping experience and how products are being featured inside AI Mode. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 2 Sep. 2026 Idea futures would undermine the institutional clout of skeptical old physicists with tenure—monetizing, promoting, and rewarding bold claims discouraged by mainstream consensus. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Washington has discouraged Chinese firms from investing in the United States and expanded the list of American products that cannot be exported to China. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 John Martin Reservoir State Park will remain open, but activities involving direct contact with water are discouraged, according to CPW. — Zach Hillstrom, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discourage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage

Verb

Sogard followed with another single, and Jarren Duran battled Bassitt to a full count, frustrated with a check swing call, before drawing a walk to load the bases.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Few Republicans have frustrated Democrats in election after election like Valadao, a dairyman whose family emigrated from Portugal's Azores Islands.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of frustrate

Verb

In May, Cloobeck was arrested and charged with three counts of attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying and one count of harassment for making annoying phone calls, according to a criminal complaint.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
The ease with which Murray operated on the field, even amid all of the developing noise, didn’t dissuade anyone from those initial impressions.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of dissuade

Verb

Experts say cartels use car bombs to intimidate rivals and authorities, pressure the government and spread fear among civilians.

— María Verza, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
More generally, the movie, directed by Elegance Bratton, is about the historical context of this murder, the conscious and organized effort by white Southern citizens and officials to intimidate, persecute, and subjugate Black people.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of intimidate

Verb

The service or product a company is providing should not deter an owner’s move to seek out a private equity investment.

— Patrick Galleher, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Last week’s Houthi advance has not deterred more container shipping industry players from attempting to make a wider return to the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of deter

Verb

The animator, who comes from a video installation background, felt stepping into the film industry was a daunting prospect.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
The density of both Rankin’s style and his tour through history can be daunting for anyone generally unfamiliar with Canadian politics, such as myself.

— Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of daunt

Verb

Last Friday, the artist Pink published a lengthy criticism of Macklemore’s on-stage polemic, writing that his comments and use of violent wartime imagery had frightened many Jewish people, including her.

— Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 16 Sep. 2026
However, Stone told Bialik that she was not frightened by the encounter.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of frighten

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discounts

discourage

discouraged

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“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of discourage

verb

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