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
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
Feelings of isolation, frustration, discouragement, anxiety, burnout, and anger are all common manifestations of diabetes distress, Diana Licalzi, RD, a certified diabetes educator and the cofounder of Reversing T2D, tells SELF.
—Beth Krietsch, SELF, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Feelings of isolation, frustration, discouragement, anxiety, burnout, and anger are all common manifestations of diabetes distress, Diana Licalzi, RD, a certified diabetes educator and the cofounder of Reversing T2D, tells SELF.
—Beth Krietsch, SELF, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discouragement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouragement
Noun
-
Society’s collapse is swift and brutal, leading to widespread despair and violence.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
22 Apr. 2026
-
May the world know that Americans are ashamed and suffering and locked into despair and destruction, which now affects the world.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Los Angeles reservoir that was notoriously empty during the 2025 Palisades fire has been drained once again as crews replace its floating cover, to the dismay of area residents who worry that there won’t be water available to fight wildfires.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Our shock and dismay comes not from political differences — but from their lack of knowledge beyond superficialities.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouragement. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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