DISHEARTENING Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

disheartening 1 of 2

adjective

as in discouraging

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Dissimilar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 disheartening

Adjective

This has been especially disheartening because the strategy and RPG elements the series is known for have so far been excellent. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026 Selina Wang, the lead author of the study, says the findings are particularly disheartening, as avocado oil products are often much more expensive than those made with olive or other vegetable oils. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 July 2026 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

Verb

There is nothing quite as disheartening of a travel mishap than arriving to your destination (or back home) and not finding your luggage on the carousel at the airport. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 22 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheartening

Adjective

Despite the discouraging landscape, recruiters and career experts say there are still ways for recent graduates to stand out.

— Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Abigail Simon-Hart is all too familiar with these discouraging trends.

— Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 25 July 2026

Definition of discouraging

Verb

But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.

— The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
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

Definition of frustrating

Adjective

Most dismaying to me was the group’s seemingly endless tinkering with the menu at Rowdy Rooster, its fast-casual fried-chicken spot, including a downgrade in the chicken’s range of heat.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Some recent comments from longtime Voicers have been especially dismaying.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

Definition of dismaying

Adjective

On top of all that, having to say this again and again is demoralizing.

— Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
The New York Mets’ big spending has backfired even more this season, though the club’s long-term picture isn’t quite as demoralizing as San Francisco’s.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of demoralizing

Adjective

That said, the more dispiriting possibility is that Gluck as a creator has gradually become too insulated from the industry’s rougher edges to recognize that his work makes an impact regardless of his intentions.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
The second explanation is less technical but more dispiriting.

— John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of dispiriting

Adjective

Miami is riding a seven-match unbeaten streak in league play and leads MLS with 45 goals, but faces a daunting task against Nashville, which is two points ahead of Miami in the standings.

— Michelle Kaufman August 14, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
Just like last year when the Kings faced a daunting early schedule with Keegan Murray sidelined due to injury, the first 20 games could set the tone for the entire season.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of daunting

Adjective

The loss of the union’s buy-in would mark a radical shift following last week’s troubling state test results — which nearly wiped out gains in reading proficiency only a year prior.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
Something was clearly off, and the sharp pivot toward paranoia was a troubling turn.

— Ayana Lage, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of troubling

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disheartened

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Style

“Disheartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheartening. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of disheartening

adjective

verb

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