1
as in frustrates
to lessen the courage or confidence of
I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dissuades
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discourages
Critics like López-Owens see it as a prime example of how the establishment discourages new voices from getting involved.
—
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
The blueprint also discourages Congress from taking up AI copyright issues.
—Hayden Field, The Verge, 20 Mar. 2026
In the videos, the man seems aware of people’s plans to visit the island but often discourages them from going.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
That's why Schwartz discourages people from self-diagnosing and treating with cleanses.
—Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
Hot weather discourages physical activity because movement becomes both psychologically and physically more challenging, leading people to move less, the study found.
—Victoria Kusztos, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Mix cinnamon with warm water to create a spray that combats fungal issues and discourages pests from returning.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
Industrial logging routinely limits access, and visual blight discourages recreation.
—Evan Mills, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
The divergence owes partly to the fact that Vancouver’s tax code discourages rentals, as the researcher Margaret Morales has argued, but also to Seattle’s conventionally American cocktail of regulations, which heavily discourages condominiums.
—M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
The blueprint also discourages Congress from taking up AI copyright issues.
—Hayden Field, The Verge, 20 Mar. 2026
In the videos, the man seems aware of people’s plans to visit the island but often discourages them from going.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
That's why Schwartz discourages people from self-diagnosing and treating with cleanses.
—Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
Hot weather discourages physical activity because movement becomes both psychologically and physically more challenging, leading people to move less, the study found.
—Victoria Kusztos, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Mix cinnamon with warm water to create a spray that combats fungal issues and discourages pests from returning.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
Industrial logging routinely limits access, and visual blight discourages recreation.
—Evan Mills, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
The divergence owes partly to the fact that Vancouver’s tax code discourages rentals, as the researcher Margaret Morales has argued, but also to Seattle’s conventionally American cocktail of regulations, which heavily discourages condominiums.
—M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourages
Verb
-
Sports-rights fragmentation frustrates plenty of fans.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The water allocation giving priority to agriculture frustrates Everglades advocates.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The difficulty of challenging an arbitrator’s award sometimes dissuades the losing party from spending the time and money necessary to mount a viable challenge.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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The tension between the audience wanting the best for Siaja while her community dissuades her is key to North of North’s appeal, and that all comes down to how strongly Lambe anchors the series around her.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The case has heightened concerns among Canada’s Iranian diaspora, many of whom have warned for years that Tehran monitors and intimidates critics abroad.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe her coolness intimidates them, or her green eyes.—
Rodrigo Hasbún,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This deters patients from using other opioids while on the medication.—
Rachel French,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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The aromatic foliage of sages (including herb species) deters aphids and Japanese beetles, while the blossoms support a host of beneficial insects.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discourages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourages. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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