as in despair
the state of being discouraged
I tried desperately to avoid discouragement after failing the bar exam twice
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discouragement
As the realities of relocating set in, his girlfriend’s enthusiasm quickly turned into doubt and discouragement.
—
Ashley Vega, People.com, 17 July 2025
This is because there’s a lot of woolly thinking out there, combined with apathy, distrust and discouragement.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
But Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling on gender-affirming care for transgender youth was the kind of attention many advocates didn’t want and the capper to a month of discouragement.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 June 2025
Be assured the world will bring more than enough discouragement, rejection, and pain into your child’s life.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
Ashley Vega, People.com, 17 July 2025
This is because there’s a lot of woolly thinking out there, combined with apathy, distrust and discouragement.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
But Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling on gender-affirming care for transgender youth was the kind of attention many advocates didn’t want and the capper to a month of discouragement.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 June 2025
Be assured the world will bring more than enough discouragement, rejection, and pain into your child’s life.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouragement
Noun
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As France awaits its next prime minister, Bacharan says many people are in despair over the uncertainty this has brought on the country.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
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Mauricio says his wife didn’t give in to that despair and felt reassured by having a work permit.—
Gustavo Valdés,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Good morning, In April 2023, Rose’s Fine Food owner Molly Mitchell announced the closing of the charming diner after nine years, to much dismay.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Swift’s dismay about a powerful ex became a fable for any girl courted by an older guy.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouragement. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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