as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
we were disheartened by the news that our grandmother was seriously ill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in discouraging
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disheartening
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
Seeing that textbook go to waste felt very disheartening.
—Sami Khan, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
Though disheartening, its abrupt cancellation wasn’t uncommon, especially for television shows that featured Black talent.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Fear of failure Failure can be disheartening, embarrassing and often downright devastating — especially in entrepreneurship, when your reputation and finances could be on the line.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Everyone is responsible for this disappointing, disheartening 0-2 start the Dolphins are on, and that includes the media that’s covering the team.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Expert breaks down 'disheartening' normalization of political violence.
—FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The Dilemma for Women Leaders For women in leadership, this moment can feel particularly disheartening.
—C200, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Headwinds can be disheartening, but lawmakers don’t easily give up.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
At the end of the day, the result was a bit disheartening.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
Seeing that textbook go to waste felt very disheartening.
—Sami Khan, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
To see a government shut down on the heels of that progress is disheartening, Explore Asheville CEO Vic Isley said.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
Though disheartening, its abrupt cancellation wasn’t uncommon, especially for television shows that featured Black talent.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Fear of failure Failure can be disheartening, embarrassing and often downright devastating — especially in entrepreneurship, when your reputation and finances could be on the line.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Everyone is responsible for this disappointing, disheartening 0-2 start the Dolphins are on, and that includes the media that’s covering the team.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Expert breaks down 'disheartening' normalization of political violence.
—FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The Dilemma for Women Leaders For women in leadership, this moment can feel particularly disheartening.
—C200, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Headwinds can be disheartening, but lawmakers don’t easily give up.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheartening
Verb
-
In fact, immunization is a dicey-enough financial proposition that the administration’s anti-vaccine policies already are discouraging providers from stocking some immunizations.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Before her groundbreaking discoveries made headlines around the world, Goodall endured long, discouraging stretches in the field.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The result was a disconcerting 31-28 loss that relegated the Chiefs to 2-3 and leaves us to question anew just who and what this team is.—
Chris Ochsner,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Overall, more disconcerting for staffers at the network are Paramount’s plans for significant layoffs later this year.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
6 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
Adjective
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The first came at a demoralizing time for the Patriots’ offense.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The Indianapolis City-County Council is nearing a key vote that will end in either a demoralizing defeat for Google or the city approving a major data center against the wishes of the councilor and residents on the southeast side of the city.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The rookie’s miscue sent the Giants to one of the most dispiriting losses of the tenure of Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some folks harbor a dispiriting conviction that governments are unable to handle the simplest task.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
What makes the task ahead even more daunting is that the Aces know not to be complacent.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Brown said of the daunting task of finding the perfect ring for someone who designs jewelry for a living.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That's what makes reports of Wikipedia's systemic bias especially troubling.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Oct. 2025
-
For many 007 fans who commented online, the artwork situation may have been a troubling look to the future of James Bond, especially with a new film being readied and Denis Villeneuve in the director’s chair.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Common Challenges and Solutions Botrytis blight and mildew can be troublesome for peonies thanks to the heat and humidity in the South.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
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Radon gas, a decay product of elements formed billions of years ago during the solar system’s birth, is especially troublesome.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disheartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheartening. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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