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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discouraging
Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2025
Good air circulation will allow leaves and stems to dry out, discouraging disease.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Done the wrong way, feedback can end up discouraging an employee from taking chances or sharing ideas for future projects.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Irrelevant information and inconvenient steps can be frustrating to the end user, discouraging future scans.
—Sharat Potharaju, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The ten experts criticize Lucas’ new DEI guidance for discouraging these types of workplace trainings by exaggerating employers’ risk of hostile work environment claims by members of majority groups.
—Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
This has heightened anxiety and burnout among remaining employees, potentially discouraging job changes.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
This win will feel like a weight lifted off the shoulder for Lee, who came into this event after a pair of discouraging performances in his last two tournaments.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
When channels of communication are broken, and topics are escalated without peer collaboration, this may create a perception of hierarchy over collaboration, potentially discouraging others from voicing their opinions or proactively addressing future issues.
—Joao Mendes-Roter, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Actions by officials in the two countries are also discouraging Canadian tourists from looking south.
—Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2025
Good air circulation will allow leaves and stems to dry out, discouraging disease.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Done the wrong way, feedback can end up discouraging an employee from taking chances or sharing ideas for future projects.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Irrelevant information and inconvenient steps can be frustrating to the end user, discouraging future scans.
—Sharat Potharaju, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The ten experts criticize Lucas’ new DEI guidance for discouraging these types of workplace trainings by exaggerating employers’ risk of hostile work environment claims by members of majority groups.
—Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
This has heightened anxiety and burnout among remaining employees, potentially discouraging job changes.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
This win will feel like a weight lifted off the shoulder for Lee, who came into this event after a pair of discouraging performances in his last two tournaments.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
When channels of communication are broken, and topics are escalated without peer collaboration, this may create a perception of hierarchy over collaboration, potentially discouraging others from voicing their opinions or proactively addressing future issues.
—Joao Mendes-Roter, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Verb
-
Building a football culture from not very much seems like a daunting prospect, but Pomroy does not seem too intimidated.—
Nick Miller,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
-
His task, especially as an outsider, felt daunting.—
Adam Williams,
The Christian Science Monitor,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And developers who take on the spatial complexities of working with old architecture face a dismaying array of bureaucratic and financial challenges.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
27 June 2025
-
And yet the industry is beset by a dismaying trend: More and more, people are watching movies on their laptops, tablets, and smartphones.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Feb. 2014
Verb
-
Relapse is alluring, Bart is intimidating, and Son is mysterious.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
-
While the market’s recent volatility can be intimidating, experts generally recommend investors focus on their long-term goals.—
Ana Teresa Solá,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
To help out, the police send over a troubled (or troublesome?) detective, Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
27 June 2025
-
According to Brennan, the most troublesome law enforcement officers were 5,000 men deputized by the U.S. marshal.—
Robert Loerzel,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
Allegations against Combs are deeply troubling, extending far beyond sensationalized narratives of wild parties.—
Liz Roberts,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
-
While an uptick in earnings is a good sign, the overall report is troubling, especially regarding employment.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
The recent Norwegian movie Handling the Undead uses zombies as a profoundly upsetting exploration of grief.—
James Grebey,
Time,
20 June 2025
-
An arson task force announced that the incident had nothing to do with Moore, upsetting Johnson.—
Alexis Okeowo,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Even then, the fact that the package contained a bloody tracksuit is still disturbing and likely to create psychological trauma for the daughter.—
Jim Halterman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
-
In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
Starting And Stopping An Intelligence Explosion There are additional controversies in this worrisome basket.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
California has seen more measles cases this year than all of 2024 The worrisome development comes as the nation is suffering its largest outbreak of the super-infectious disease in decades.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share