Synonyms of disheartening

disheartening 1 of 2

adjective

as in discouraging

Related Words

• discouraging
• disconcerting
• dismaying
• demoralizing
• dispiriting
• daunting
• troubling
• troublesome
• upsetting
• disturbing
• worrisome
• distressing
• unsettling
• disquieting
• frightening
• discomfiting
• perturbing
• discomforting
• nagging
• troublous
• scary
• chilling
• alarming
• discomposing
• shocking
• terrifying
• nasty
• horrifying
• terrible
• horrible
• fearful
• formidable
• dreadful
• ghastly
• horrendous
• persecutory
• dire
• frightful
• dread
• harassing
• forbidding
• fearsome
• intimidating
• persecutive
• direful
• hair-raising

Dissimilar Words

• reassuring
• settling
• soothing
• calming
• comforting
• narcotic
• relaxing
• dreamy
• inviting
• sedative
• quieting
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• lulling
• pacifying

disheartening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dishearten

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

• discouraging
• frustrating
• daunting
• dispiriting
• unnerving
• frightening
• demoralizing
• intimidating
• dismaying
• horrifying
• troubling
• chilling
• distressing
• worrying
• scaring
• saddening
• afflicting
• throwing cold water on
• bothering
• depressing
• unmanning
• trying
• bullying
• weighing
• debilitating
• browbeating
• undermining
• weakening
• cowing
• vexing
• deadening
• irking
• dampening
• damping
• enfeebling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraging
• cheering
• heartening
• invigorating
• reinforcing
• enforcing
• exciting
• nerving
• emboldening
• enlivening
• strengthening
• reassuring
• animating
• steeling
• assuring
• gladdening
• stirring
• stimulating
• inspiring
• fortifying
• buoying (up)
• provoking
• energizing
• lifting
• galvanizing
• rallying
• quickening
• boosting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disheartening

Adjective

That process repeats over and over and can be very disheartening to the team. — Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Still, during a summer when the Tigers are trying to resuscitate their season after a disheartening May, process creates only so much comfort. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Though 2025 was a disappointing five-loss campaign that opened with a disheartening 34-7 defeat at USF and ended in similar fashion (38-10) against Washington in the LA Bowl, Spencer Danielson’s Broncos nonetheless won another Mountain West title. — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Drying Your Nails At Home There is nothing more disheartening than taking time to paint your nails at home only to smudge them minutes later. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 May 2026

And now this disheartening accounting error. — Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 25 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

The crocodile’s rare appearance represented a disheartening degradation but a hopeful sign of what the Niger Delta, if salvaged, can still become — an eco-diverse paradise akin to the Amazon or Costa Rica, that feeds its populace and attracts foreign visitors wanting to witness nature’s glory. — Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026

With the next five against the Lakers, Rockets, Spurs, Cavaliers and Cavaliers, there will be the opportunity for statement wins to follow, after the disheartening losses to the Magic and Hornets. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026

Verb

These answers reflect a pretty clear, if slightly disheartening, picture of what is in store for the Falcons at the quarterback position. — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Gomez said the search has been disheartening, with their hopes of staying in the city of Hammond beginning to wane. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026

The trio also acknowledged how demoralizing and disheartening the recent spate of firings, and the lack of explanation for them, has been. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 11 June 2026

And Saturday’s walkoff loss to the Rangers was especially disheartening. — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026

Kantor said the data is disheartening. — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026

While the unknown status is disheartening, Nepola recalls how the series, first brought to the air in 2011, was once thought to be gone for good only to be resurrected by Peacock in 2021. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

If that is what our cops are hearing and no one steps up to say otherwise, that can be disheartening. — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026

Prior to Tuesday night’s disheartening 136-106 road loss to the Charlotte Hornets, Spoelstra was asked about his team’s unique reliance on zone defense. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026