1
as in frustrating
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 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
as in demoralizing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of discouraging
Matt Wadleigh, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
That’s a discouraging sign for inflation.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
This brought a discouraging idea to my mind.
—Chester Chatfield, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2025
The disability application process can be long and discouraging, and many people are denied at first.
—Health, 15 Aug. 2025
Understanding what makes these roles appealing—or discouraging—can help organizations better engage and retain future leaders.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
This would include more stoutly discouraging the delusion and possibly being completely upfront and clamping down on it.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Many in the travel industry say the White House's hardline stance on immigration, tariffs and foreign policy is discouraging tourists.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
In that case, the district Feds could raise their discount rates, discouraging local banks’ borrowing.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
Others worry about privacy concerns and discouraging people from buying EVs, which can help reduce transportation emissions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
But the real value of such a treaty is its deterrent effect, discouraging countries from developing such weapons.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
OpenAI added new mental health guardrails this month aimed at discouraging ChatGPT from giving direct advice about personal challenges.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
Hanging over it all is the Chinese government discouraging purchases of Nvidia made-for-China H20 chips in favor of homegrown alternatives — is that why Nvidia reportedly told supplier Foxconn to stop work on the H2?
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
Iamaleava, the Tennessee transfer, threw for just 136 yards with one touchdown and an interception in a discouraging Bruins debut at the Rose Bowl.
—Matt Wadleigh, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
That’s a discouraging sign for inflation.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
This brought a discouraging idea to my mind.
—Chester Chatfield, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2025
The disability application process can be long and discouraging, and many people are denied at first.
—Health, 15 Aug. 2025
Understanding what makes these roles appealing—or discouraging—can help organizations better engage and retain future leaders.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Those concerns were not discouraging people online and around me from embracing the reformer machine.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
This would include more stoutly discouraging the delusion and possibly being completely upfront and clamping down on it.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Many in the travel industry say the White House's hardline stance on immigration, tariffs and foreign policy is discouraging tourists.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
In that case, the district Feds could raise their discount rates, discouraging local banks’ borrowing.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Aug. 2025
Others worry about privacy concerns and discouraging people from buying EVs, which can help reduce transportation emissions.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
But the real value of such a treaty is its deterrent effect, discouraging countries from developing such weapons.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
OpenAI added new mental health guardrails this month aimed at discouraging ChatGPT from giving direct advice about personal challenges.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
Hanging over it all is the Chinese government discouraging purchases of Nvidia made-for-China H20 chips in favor of homegrown alternatives — is that why Nvidia reportedly told supplier Foxconn to stop work on the H2?
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Verb
-
Security experts Fox News Digital has spoken with remain divided on how effective secondary tariffs will be in dissuading Putin’s war ambitions, which NATO allies have pose an existential threat to Europe.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Watching what’s unfolding around us can be demoralizing.—
Stacey Abrams,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Those are the kinds of demoralizing stats that break Hern’s heart.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But for a teenager itching to see more of Britain—and eventually the world—that lack of curiosity was disheartening.—
Rohan Banerjee,
Time,
23 Aug. 2025
-
So, the idea of the teen driver owing an additional $4,200 on the SUV after paying fees and putting money down ($1,500-$2,000) is disheartening to say the least.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Containing Russia in Europe is therefore essential to deterring China globally.—
Sławomir Cenckiewicz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Products like organic soap sprays and organic horticultural oil control smaller pests, while tree guards, netting, and fruit protection bags are musts for deterring birds and large critters such as groundhogs or raccoons, or deer that may damage the tree bark.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
With a six-game deficit in the American League wild card hunt entering play on Monday, the Angels may be only a few series away from repeating their dismaying playbook from 2023.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The climate crisis is urgent and can feel daunting at times, but the solutions are within reach and many exist right now.—
Adam Gardner,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The level of self-reflection and personal accountability required to assess and develop a healthy organizational culture can be daunting.—
Tracy Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For some—for me—the experience of certain kinds of anxiety has a disconcerting synesthetic quality.—
Scott Stossel,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The disconcerting answer is that nobody knows.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For contractors, welcoming verification may seem intimidating at first.—
Brynn Cooksey,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Extend your stay in Portorosso with the 2021 short Ciao Alberto, which follows Alberto working for the intimidating fisherman Massimo (Marco Barricelli).—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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