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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discouraging
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
Yet seldom is heard a discouraging word when Darnold assesses what happened in New York, Carolina, San Francisco, or Minnesota.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Tiffany Archer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
But that wasn't the only discouraging news this week.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 13 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
Appalachia has lost regional obstetric services in recent years and seen numerous hospital closures, further discouraging providers from working there.
—Gretchen E. Ely, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Trump's letters to congressional leaders Friday are a volley aimed at discouraging lawmakers in Congress from restricting military action against Iran.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Planning presumes a set of ideal conditions for childbearing — conditions most accessible to white, economically secure Americans — while stigmatizing and discouraging the reproduction of others.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Adjective
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
Yet seldom is heard a discouraging word when Darnold assesses what happened in New York, Carolina, San Francisco, or Minnesota.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
But that wasn't the only discouraging news this week.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 13 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
Appalachia has lost regional obstetric services in recent years and seen numerous hospital closures, further discouraging providers from working there.
—Gretchen E. Ely, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Trump's letters to congressional leaders Friday are a volley aimed at discouraging lawmakers in Congress from restricting military action against Iran.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Planning presumes a set of ideal conditions for childbearing — conditions most accessible to white, economically secure Americans — while stigmatizing and discouraging the reproduction of others.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Adjective
-
The Canadiens aren’t going anywhere, and another loss would put the Sabres in a demoralizing 3-1 hole.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The demoralizing loss sent the Lakers into a three-game tailspin just a couple weeks before the playoffs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 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
-
He is also accused of dissuading a victim and destroying a communication device.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
In the credit card world, the r/churning subreddit boasts nearly 30,000 weekly visitors, and even has a whole FAQ section about dissuading the average person from engaging in churning, offering several reasons that Fred agrees with.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And now this disheartening accounting error.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Transplant Shock is Avoidable Inviting the opportunity for transplant shock has got to be one of the most disheartening gardening mistakes out there.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His statistics class, especially, was daunting.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
The franchise that suddenly came alive again in ’24 was quickly grounded in ’25 and now faces a daunting slate with many unknowns.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition to deterring unwanted visitors or critters, these flood lights have also become popular among pet owners for another purpose.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
-
Safer pest control options include planting pest-deterring plants, using physical barriers, and maintaining a clean, healthy garden.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
9 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
-
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
-
Beaulah orders Joaquin to clean up the mess, which involves dragging his brother to rehab and possibly intimidating Wes’s highly suspicious widow, Whitney (Olivia Rose Keegan), into leaving town.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
The learning curve, while gentler than tennis, can still feel intimidating in a social setting.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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