as in to discourage
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 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
as in discouraging
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disheartening
David Plazas, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
In a disheartening blow that undermines the right of every child to receive a quality public education, the Supreme Court issued a ruling a few weeks ago allowing President Donald Trump to proceed with his plan to dismantle the Department of Education by laying off nearly half of its workforce.
—Andrea Campbell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
During a brief break from touring at the beginning of March, Colonel wrote to Tom Diskin, clearly disheartened by his inability to make any headway with Neal.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
District parent Sequoia Williams, who has been outspoken in her advocacy for better student resources, said hearing how the district was contributing toward bills for a single credit card was disheartening.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
Numerous skilled, educated, and ambitious professionals in Africa face a disheartening reality.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Such a perspective may feel disheartening, but there is a figure from history who can offer a different kind of response—one rooted not in grand theories, but in practice and principle.
—Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Commissioners should be reminded, at every step of the process, that an overwhelming majority of Floridians are disgusted and disheartened at the prospect of another brutal, bloody bear hunt.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2025
The rejection was disheartening, but the Petersons understood the agencies' concerns about liability and whether adoptive families could handle the challenges ahead.
—Analisa Novak, CBS News, 14 July 2025
Verb
Even one instance of an innocent person being swept in raids is terrible, but to witness multiple cases of people being detained, deported and denied due process in a court of law is disheartening.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
In a disheartening blow that undermines the right of every child to receive a quality public education, the Supreme Court issued a ruling a few weeks ago allowing President Donald Trump to proceed with his plan to dismantle the Department of Education by laying off nearly half of its workforce.
—Andrea Campbell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
During a brief break from touring at the beginning of March, Colonel wrote to Tom Diskin, clearly disheartened by his inability to make any headway with Neal.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
District parent Sequoia Williams, who has been outspoken in her advocacy for better student resources, said hearing how the district was contributing toward bills for a single credit card was disheartening.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
Numerous skilled, educated, and ambitious professionals in Africa face a disheartening reality.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Such a perspective may feel disheartening, but there is a figure from history who can offer a different kind of response—one rooted not in grand theories, but in practice and principle.
—Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Commissioners should be reminded, at every step of the process, that an overwhelming majority of Floridians are disgusted and disheartened at the prospect of another brutal, bloody bear hunt.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2025
The rejection was disheartening, but the Petersons understood the agencies' concerns about liability and whether adoptive families could handle the challenges ahead.
—Analisa Novak, CBS News, 14 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheartening
Adjective
-
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
-
Data site Census Reporter whispers a hopeful, yet slightly dismaying, truth: over half of Austinites are unattached.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The many hours involved in pushing a mortgage across the finish line were daunting, the work tedious and dull, both for me and my clients.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Many are daunting, and perhaps more deserving of the city’s assistance.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Her diet grew so troubling that a foster family admitted her to Four Winds Hospital in Saratoga, New York, for an eating disorder.—
Noelle Wiehe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The Alaska meeting, which concluded without the Ukraine ceasefire Trump had promised, represents the latest chapter in a troubling pattern: the 45th and 47th president’s persistent confusion of stagecraft for statecraft.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That is probably true – but only makes the current freefall more troublesome.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Florida’s wildlife commissioners set aside pleas and arguments from black bear advocates today and approved a December hunt of the state’s shy but increasingly troublesome species.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Furthermore, a source close to Harry made clear how upsetting the findings were for him.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Practice saying no to things that aren’t in your best interest, and avoid engaging in triggering, negative, or upsetting conversations.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
Not sure what’s funnier and more disturbing, Sweet Tooth’s urine test coming back as a black goo, or Axel not allowing a blood sample, presumably because his blood is gasoline.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
14 Aug. 2025
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In the spring, Linda appeared in a disturbing social media video lifting the lid on the dysfunction in the family.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But Moran and Hicks squashed any late momentum, a worrisome trend for a team fighting for a postseason spot.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Erin has become an unusually large and deceptively worrisome storm while moving through the Caribbean, with its tropical storm winds stretching 230 miles (370 kilometers) from its core.—
John Seewer,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Their story was both deeply familiar and powerfully unsettling.—
Sam Wolson,
New Yorker,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The novel is unsettling but thrilling, and a classic work that has stood the test of time.—
Robert English,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disheartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheartening. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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