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
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
But to unmask the killer in a mansion filled with ticking clocks and suspects, amateur detective Eileen must first get round discouragement from Lady Caterham, played by Helena Bonham Carter, and Sherlock star Martin Freeman as superintendent Battle.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Keep your cool, adjust expectations, and don’t let discouragement bring you down during this early period of the year.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
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
But to unmask the killer in a mansion filled with ticking clocks and suspects, amateur detective Eileen must first get round discouragement from Lady Caterham, played by Helena Bonham Carter, and Sherlock star Martin Freeman as superintendent Battle.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Keep your cool, adjust expectations, and don’t let discouragement bring you down during this early period of the year.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouragement
Noun
-
All morning, Keller had been swinging between optimism and despair.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
That’s not a reason to despair.—
Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
While the days of wearing in-flight formalwear are long gone (much to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s dismay), there are wardrobe clues that may imply someone is headed to a boardroom and not the beach.—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
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In addition to her comment on McDonald's post, Yvette Nicole Brown also expressed her dismay over Pratt's run on Threads.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouragement. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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