as in despair
the state of being discouraged
I tried desperately to avoid discouragement after failing the bar exam twice
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Recent Examples of discouragement
Be aware that this discouragement might not be based on solid facts, but rather on disappointed hopes and wishes.
—
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026
And given all the ambient discouragement against speaking up about this particular cause, solidarity isn’t just a buzzword.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
SpongeBob doesn’t stay stuck in discouragement or disappointment for long, but rather looks for something positive to focus on.
—Liz Regalia, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
Stand strong in your plans and strategies for 2026 even if February and early March bring some discouragement.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026
And given all the ambient discouragement against speaking up about this particular cause, solidarity isn’t just a buzzword.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
SpongeBob doesn’t stay stuck in discouragement or disappointment for long, but rather looks for something positive to focus on.
—Liz Regalia, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
Stand strong in your plans and strategies for 2026 even if February and early March bring some discouragement.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouragement
Noun
-
Paula turns on a dime, expertly masks her horror, stress, and despair, and puts on a smile for her little girl.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
-
What happened last night was a double dip of despair.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
This escalates into a dragon chase and Aemond’s giant, ancient beast is overcome with bloodlust, killing Luke and his dragon much to the dismay of Aemond One-Eye.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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The iconic toys from the series – Woody, Buzz Lightyear, the Potato Heads, Forky and Slinky Dog – then watch in dismay as Bonnie casts them all aside in favor of the bright tablet screen.—
Aarushi Bhandari,
The Conversation,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouragement. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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