as in discouraging
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as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
we were disheartened by the news that our grandmother was seriously ill
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disheartening
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
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
Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
For those dealing with the disheartening struggles of infertility, this is good news.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
Add a breast cancer diagnosis—with its potential surgeries, scars and treatment side effects—and the pressure to conform to outdated beauty standards can feel disheartening.
—Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheartening
Adjective
-
If the gap between self and fitfluencer seems too wide, comparisons become discouraging, not motivating.—
Abby Frank,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Nothing creates a discouraging organizational structure more than uncertainty.—
Josh Browning,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
-
Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
-
The macro view is more disconcerting.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Democratic leaders actually were troubled by Mamdani’s rise (although their preference for a disgraced former governor was equally dismaying), but Democratic voters handed Mamdani a solid victory despite his radical positions.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
28 Nov. 2025
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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
Adjective
-
Despite suffering demoralizing losses in 2024 and grappling with persistently low approval ratings, Democrats have reasons to be optimistic about the 2026 cycle.—
Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The Jays were able to put their demoralizing, 18-inning loss the night before behind them as the bats came back to life.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In Week 16, Detroit had a first and goal from the 1-yard line in the final seconds against the Pittsburgh Steelers but failed to score the go-ahead touchdown in a dispiriting loss.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
26 Dec. 2025
-
Then there’s the somewhat dispiriting fact that stadium-level rock bands are dwindling for younger generations, so much so that these offers to push out older acts are almost done by necessity.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The decision to pivot into an emerging industry like cannabis can be both exciting and daunting.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The path to the AFC title game is not overly daunting.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Authorities said police responded to reports of a burglary early morning, when security staff alerted officers of the troubling incident.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Indeed, squandering fourth-quarter advantages become a troubling trend for the Ravens in Harbaugh’s last few seasons, and after a hamstring injury sidelined Jackson, Baltimore stumbled to a 1-5 start in 2025.—
Noah Trister,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disheartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheartening. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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