discouraged 1 of 2

Definition of discouragednext

discouraged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of discourage

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 discouraged
Adjective
Those searching for a way out of the shutdown seemed discouraged. Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026 Outdoor burning is discouraged. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026 Iranians of diverse religious faiths mark Nowruz even though the hard-line Iranian regime has at times discouraged festivities. Amy Taxin, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026 New gardeners sometimes become discouraged in their first year, due to overwhelming demands, unrealistic expectations, and disappointing results. Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026 Iranians of diverse religious faiths mark Nowruz even though the hard-line Iranian regime has at times discouraged festivities. ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026 Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during these periods. Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026 So, would that qualify him as anxious, but not discouraged? CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026 But throughout most of America’s history, until recently, gambling was heavily regulated and generally discouraged. The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
There is a reasonable argument to be made that nostalgia, particularly current decisions informed by nostalgia, are by their nature regressive and should be discouraged. Nick Miller, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026 John says his late mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, would’ve never approved of their relationship and Carolyn reveals her mom, Ann Messina Freeman, discouraged their union during their wedding weekend. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 Jammies optional, naps discouraged. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026 But Orlando doesn’t feel discouraged by the results of the past two games. Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026 Novice gardeners may start with optimism, but they can sometimes be discouraged by summer pests, weeds, and maintenance. Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026 In December 2024, Colombia began to import gas on a massive scale after being self-sufficient for four decades, with critics saying that Petro had discouraged companies from launching new ventures in Colombia. ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026 Exhibitors don’t want Amazon MGM to get discouraged by growing pains. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026 Conyngham had identified an immunotherapy drug from a pharmaceutical company, but the manufacturer refused to provide it for compassionate use, leaving him momentarily discouraged. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraged
Adjective
  • There is, however, room for questions about where the line between prohibited and acceptable political involvement will fall in practice.
    BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 11 July 2025
  • The list of prohibited and restricted items, as found on the CBP website, includes alcohol, biological materials, firearms, food and produce such as fruits and vegetables, soil, wildlife, fish, and gold, among other items.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • And whose heart didn’t swell with pride when the disheartened Malinin immediately pulled himself together to congratulate Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, who skated away with the top honors?
    Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The San Jose Unified School District board voted Thursday night to shut down five elementary schools and relocate another at the end of the current school year, a decision that has left many parents and students frustrated and scrambling to adjust.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • She wasn’t dissuaded two years later — and mid-renovation — when a $475 million Target distribution center was announced for the small city, creating an industrial foothold in a mostly agrarian area.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Trump could have dissuaded the Israelis once again.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Less than an hour’s drive from the holiday markets, on the way to Salla and its forbidden frontier, hundreds of Finnish soldiers are training to repel any future Russian invasion.
    Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Women, whether secular or religious, remain forbidden to read, write or tell stories.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Lukébakio entered in the 62nd minute and beat Turner from long range in the 68th and 82nd minutes to build a 5-1 lead before a disappointed largely pro-American crowd of 66,867 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, site of a World Cup semifinal in July.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • When Wei’s Cantonese left its Meridian ghost-kitchen building and paused business — vowing to seek another location later — fans were understandably disappointed.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The community wasn’t daunted by the warmth of the day, with crowds lining the streets to watch as floats, marching bands, equestrian groups, community organizations and more marched past, celebrating San Juan Capistrano and the area’s history.
    Heather McRea, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
  • She was not daunted by this fact.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Concert organizers are not deterred from moving forward with the upcoming season, which is set to kick off on June 7 with the DJ Williams Band, City Park Jazz officials said in a statement.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
  • So the primary objective is to basically create the conditions under which Israel and the United States are deterred from committing an act of aggression against Iran ever again.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Discouraged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraged. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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