as in demoralizing
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Dissimilar Words
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
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 6 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
Their status has been diminished by what has — charitably — been a really discouraging decade, featuring two separate relegations.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
High taxes squeeze margins and send a discouraging signal to firms.
—Andrew Rein, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof solution for discouraging squirrels from enjoying a free meal at your expense.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
The expiration of federal EV tax credits last year removed a key incentive for car buyers, potentially discouraging some from making the switch.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026
The union is, of course, discouraging others from taking the job.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Rather than discouraging him, these moments strengthened his resolve.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
It’s been discouraging to watch, said Doron Berger, an early business partner and investor in the company.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
These interconnected policies demonstrate an intentional effort to reshape the American electorate by discouraging nonwhite immigration and citizenship.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
But the growth was slightly slower than economists expected, and a measure of prices accelerated at its fastest pace since 2022 in a potentially discouraging signal for inflation.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 6 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
Their status has been diminished by what has — charitably — been a really discouraging decade, featuring two separate relegations.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
High taxes squeeze margins and send a discouraging signal to firms.
—Andrew Rein, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Long-term security and stability are needed right now Friday's inflation report wasn't the only discouraging economic news as of late.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof solution for discouraging squirrels from enjoying a free meal at your expense.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
The expiration of federal EV tax credits last year removed a key incentive for car buyers, potentially discouraging some from making the switch.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026
The union is, of course, discouraging others from taking the job.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Rather than discouraging him, these moments strengthened his resolve.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
It’s been discouraging to watch, said Doron Berger, an early business partner and investor in the company.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
These interconnected policies demonstrate an intentional effort to reshape the American electorate by discouraging nonwhite immigration and citizenship.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Adjective
-
By the time Ambassador Martin authorized an evacuation, the only way out—since Martin had vetoed a proposal to put refugees on freighters and take them down the Saigon River to the coast (too demoralizing a spectacle)—was by helicopter.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
After the traditionally incredibly dominant US basketball team finished third at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the demoralizing loss forced the best ballers in the country to get serious and learn to work together.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Elias was convicted in March on one count of second-degree murder, one count of torture, one count of child abuse and two counts of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, all of which are felonies, the release said.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But the report said those efforts would have limited effects in dissuading someone who has a gambling addiction.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Sure, the Longhorns (21-15, 9-9) endured an up-and-down regular season and suffered a disheartening loss to Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Among its other fine qualities, the past offers tools for thinking about how to create change in situations where the odds look daunting.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The incoming commissioner will face a daunting list of challenges.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Getting them back, and quickly manufacturing more, is key to deterring China.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Ahead of the draft April 23-25, Miami has some intriguing names on its depth chart at the position, but none that rise to the level of deterring the team from finding a talented rookie tight end.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The keenness of my letdown was dismaying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But there’s another side to this story, equally dismaying, which is the abandonment of dissidents as a public cause in the West.—
Bret Stephens,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Upper East Side townhouse feels intimidating in the way only very expensive real estate can—big rooms, high ceilings, everything perfectly in place.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Fundamentals of Japanese Approaching the language as a newcomer is intimidating.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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