as in demoralizing
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1
as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dissuading
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 discouraging
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 20 May 2026
In another discouraging signal, price increases accelerated by more in April than economists expected even after excluding gasoline and food costs.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The first half of this homestand has been particularly discouraging because the Phillies, though rich in talent, came to Miami at 12-19 before winning three of four at loanDepot Park.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
And the results are downright discouraging.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Both hosts often wept as Guthrie described her emotional journey through the increasingly discouraging investigation into her mother’s whereabouts.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Still, the latest uptick is a discouraging sign for house hunters as the spring buying season kicks off.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
My own watch party got off to a discouraging start.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Admittedly, someone older might be critical or discouraging.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Adding layers of bureaucratic chaos will have the insidious effect of discouraging people from following the law.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 May 2026
Keep in mind that officials are discouraging anyone without a match ticket from traveling to the stadium that day.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 26 May 2026
That threat was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons and appears to significantly lower the threshold for the possible use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
If an override did occur and was reversed by a manager who trusted the system's track record, the structure is actively discouraging the judgment it was built to include.
—Tiffany Archer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
During the Obama administration, policies dictated that DOJ wouldn’t interfere with state laws allowing medical or recreational pot use, effectively discouraging prosecution for nonviolent users who weren’t involved in organized crime.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 May 2026
This tax risks discouraging investment and fails to address the real drivers of our housing shortage — supply constraints and regulatory barriers.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
That reality can feel discouraging for victims.
—Jon Stojan
may 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Adjective
This week marked a discouraging milestone for American motorists.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 20 May 2026
In another discouraging signal, price increases accelerated by more in April than economists expected even after excluding gasoline and food costs.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The first half of this homestand has been particularly discouraging because the Phillies, though rich in talent, came to Miami at 12-19 before winning three of four at loanDepot Park.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
And the results are downright discouraging.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Both hosts often wept as Guthrie described her emotional journey through the increasingly discouraging investigation into her mother’s whereabouts.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Still, the latest uptick is a discouraging sign for house hunters as the spring buying season kicks off.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
My own watch party got off to a discouraging start.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Admittedly, someone older might be critical or discouraging.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Unfortunately, national health equity experts have cautioned that price-setting approaches, if not carefully designed, can unintentionally reduce access for communities already facing barriers to care by narrowing treatment options or discouraging participation in certain markets.
—Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Adding layers of bureaucratic chaos will have the insidious effect of discouraging people from following the law.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 May 2026
Keep in mind that officials are discouraging anyone without a match ticket from traveling to the stadium that day.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 26 May 2026
That threat was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons and appears to significantly lower the threshold for the possible use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
If an override did occur and was reversed by a manager who trusted the system's track record, the structure is actively discouraging the judgment it was built to include.
—Tiffany Archer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
During the Obama administration, policies dictated that DOJ wouldn’t interfere with state laws allowing medical or recreational pot use, effectively discouraging prosecution for nonviolent users who weren’t involved in organized crime.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 May 2026
This tax risks discouraging investment and fails to address the real drivers of our housing shortage — supply constraints and regulatory barriers.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
That reality can feel discouraging for victims.
—Jon Stojan
may 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Adjective
-
Cleveland's season ended with a resounding, demoralizing and embarrassing 130-93 loss on Monday night in Game 4 to the New York Knicks, who swept the series and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 May 2026
-
An edgy confrontation The Rangers were still seething as Keenan attempted to address the team following a demoralizing 3-1 loss, with a few snapping back or muttering under their breath.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The jury in March found O’Connor guilty of crimes including child endangerment and furnishing alcohol to a minor, and dissuading a witness.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
-
Because having peers who smoke increases young people’s chances of starting themselves, fewer kids being able to get their hands on cigarettes should have a ripple effect, dissuading more and more of their peers from experimenting.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
This can be quite disheartening.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
And now this disheartening accounting error.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But to make up all that ground in a short period of time felt daunting.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Unfamiliar situations may feel daunting at first, but yield the best opportunity for growth.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Silver price gains of around 140% last year have been deterring buyers in various industries and its elevated price levels are beginning to weigh on demand, UBS said in a note published on May 22.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
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And so the Lord imposed a panoply of tongues, thereby deterring the creation of any new technology that might aspire to divine power and glory.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
And in the worst cases — a scenario that plays out with dismaying regularity — the executive who championed the project has moved on to another job entirely.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
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This dismaying course of events reflects a major problem with bio-pics: that the involvement of interested parties—whether the subjects themselves, their families, or other rights holders—risks distorting a life story by sanitizing it, leaving out events that would make the subject look bad.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Without a baseline of knowledge, climate tech can feel abstract or intimidating.—
Cyril PETIT,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
These barriers are especially intimidating when brands are looking to expand internationally — operational missteps can often lead to growth stagnation.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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