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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
our excusable disheartenment in the face of overwhelming odds against winning the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dishearten
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
See All Example Sentences for dishearten
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for dishearten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishearten
Verb
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However, those notoriously volatile market conditions haven’t discouraged some entrepreneurs.—
Barbara Peterson,
AFAR Media,
6 Oct. 2025
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In states such as Maryland, the role diversity, equity, and inclusion-like policies embedded in federal contract requirements are playing in discouraging development has come into focus as efforts begin to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Most powerful of all is Ritchie’s (Bill Hader / Finn Wolfhard) coming-out story, which leaves the viewer in despair.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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But people also described the despair of not being able to reach family or colleagues.—
Zahra Nader,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Laurene Allen, an environmental advocate who lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, where PFNA was one of several forever chemicals discovered in drinking water in 2016, was awaiting the report and is frustrated and enraged by its delay.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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The heated debate around the City Hall Project and picking apart the budget were two experiences in particular that frustrated Nguyen.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Alcaraz and Sinner both skipped the Canadian Open in August, to the dismay of its organizers.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Having spent the day expressing dismay over immigration stats and joy over the latest Space X launch, Musk had nothing to say about Mondays’ suit.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dishearten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishearten. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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