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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discouraging
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
This will be a discouraging experience for you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
Australia’s 1-0 win at Stade Saputo Friday night handed the Canada head coach his first loss on home soil, getting the October international window off to a discouraging start.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Kindling his broad grin and clean laughter brightened even the most discouraging day.
—Jim Moore, Outdoor Life, 8 Oct. 2025
My father was very discouraging about it, too.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
At the same time, the Edinburgh publishers Oliver and Boyd brought out an anthology called The Door of Youth—A Selection of Poems from Edinburgh School Magazines, with a discouraging preface by John Buchan.
—Frances Wilson
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
The examples of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where life after revolution is replete with bitterness and recrimination, are profoundly discouraging.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox suffered a discouraging 5-3 loss to the Athletics, who clinched the three-game series and handed Boston its eighth defeat in the last 13 games.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
After possibly allowing the opening touchdown to Browns tight end Harold Fannin, Spillane was everywhere; diagnosing run plays, discouraging throws and snagging an interception in the second half.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
One reason why grade inflation has increased at Harvard is concern among faculty about being tougher than their peers and thereby discouraging enrollment in their courses, Claybaugh said in the study, which was reported earlier by the Harvard Crimson.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
The opposing view is that discouraging tourists could hurt local economies that rely on them.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
In many faith traditions, mental health can be a stigmatized topic, discouraging open dialogue for those struggling with issues like depression or anxiety.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Nevertheless, disagreements with family members might be discouraging.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
But far from discouraging him, her comment became the inception of a −very sweet− journey.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, Beijing has reportedly been discouraging local firms from buying Nvidia chips.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The Rams want to go into their bye week with a win after two straight years entering their off week coming off a discouraging loss.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
This will be a discouraging experience for you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
Australia’s 1-0 win at Stade Saputo Friday night handed the Canada head coach his first loss on home soil, getting the October international window off to a discouraging start.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Kindling his broad grin and clean laughter brightened even the most discouraging day.
—Jim Moore, Outdoor Life, 8 Oct. 2025
My father was very discouraging about it, too.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
At the same time, the Edinburgh publishers Oliver and Boyd brought out an anthology called The Door of Youth—A Selection of Poems from Edinburgh School Magazines, with a discouraging preface by John Buchan.
—Frances Wilson
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
The examples of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where life after revolution is replete with bitterness and recrimination, are profoundly discouraging.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox suffered a discouraging 5-3 loss to the Athletics, who clinched the three-game series and handed Boston its eighth defeat in the last 13 games.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
The initiative also coincides with the $100,000 H-1B application fee, introduced September 21, two days after the DOL announcement—a White House move aimed at discouraging bulk filings by staffing and outsourcing firms.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
After possibly allowing the opening touchdown to Browns tight end Harold Fannin, Spillane was everywhere; diagnosing run plays, discouraging throws and snagging an interception in the second half.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
One reason why grade inflation has increased at Harvard is concern among faculty about being tougher than their peers and thereby discouraging enrollment in their courses, Claybaugh said in the study, which was reported earlier by the Harvard Crimson.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
The opposing view is that discouraging tourists could hurt local economies that rely on them.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
In many faith traditions, mental health can be a stigmatized topic, discouraging open dialogue for those struggling with issues like depression or anxiety.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Nevertheless, disagreements with family members might be discouraging.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
But far from discouraging him, her comment became the inception of a −very sweet− journey.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, Beijing has reportedly been discouraging local firms from buying Nvidia chips.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Adjective
-
The Jays were able to put their demoralizing, 18-inning loss the night before behind them as the bats came back to life.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The work—in a way, a series of encounters with random elements of one-click consumerism, including coloring books and marketing guides for dentists—is tedious, repetitive, and demoralizing.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Last week, Phypers was arrested in court and charged with four felonies — two counts of injuring a spouse and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat.—
Sarah Sotoodeh,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For those dealing with the disheartening struggles of infertility, this is good news.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of the day, the result was a bit disheartening.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Many leaders find coaching daunting.—
por Ruchira Chaudhary,
Harvard Business Review,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Personal finance can be daunting.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The France native didn’t slow down in the second half, notching his fifth 40-point game, dominating both sides of the court and deterring players from the paint.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Oct. 2025
-
But some experts have expressed concerns that the staggering H-1B fee could have a chilling effect long-term, deterring students who want to work under other employment visas, and impacting critical industries which depend on STEM graduates like tech, healthcare and energy.—
Ivan Watson,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On top of this dismaying thought comes the realization that the AI is available 24x7 and at a low cost or perhaps even free.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
But the drum sound wasn’t nearly as dismaying as the studio’s piano, which kept slipping out of tune.—
Peter Ames Carlin,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
British pubs can be intimidating for visitors.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In the 2025 case related to the letters he is accused of sending from jail, Scott is charged with one count of misappropriating a person's identity to harm their reputation, intimidating a witness, and two counts of felony bail jumping.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Land of Spooks is a phantasmagorical blend of twisting gothic spires, impossible land formations, and disconcerting expressionist proportions.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The findings are deeply disconcerting.—
Stephanie Silverman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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