as in disheartening
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as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
dispirited by the overwhelming amount of information needed to write the report
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Recent Examples of dispiriting
Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Some folks harbor a dispiriting conviction that governments are unable to handle the simplest task.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Let’s establish all of that up front after the Carolina Panthers’ dispiriting, 20-3 exhibition loss at Houston Saturday.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2025
Whether driven by social apathy or artistic passion, James—effortlessly played by O’Connor with hangdog elegance—registers as a compelling update of the ’70s American male loner archetype for another dispiriting, directionless time.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
The Dolphins took an all-time dispiriting L in their 2025 opener to the Indianapolis Colts, the kind that prompts a players-only meeting after Week 1.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
There is no question that the study of history and its conflicts, injustices and exclusions can be dispiriting.
—Annie Polland, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
The Giants have dropped two division games to start their season — first a dispiriting 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders followed by a 40-37 heartbreaker to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
After Week 1, a dispiriting 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, those hopes had to be reeled in.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The endgame here of every state except maybe a few purple ones having representatives from only one party is really dispiriting — this clearly is not what the Congressional system was set up to be.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Similar condos are now being built from the Upper West Side (handsome) to Greenpoint (dispiriting).
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
In this excerpt, adapted from Seller’s memoir, Theater Kid (out on May 6 from Simon & Schuster), the producer lays out the musical’s long road from dispiriting workshop to its simultaneously triumphant and tragic first preview performance.
—Jeffrey Seller, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The rookie’s miscue sent the Giants to one of the most dispiriting losses of the tenure of Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Some folks harbor a dispiriting conviction that governments are unable to handle the simplest task.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Let’s establish all of that up front after the Carolina Panthers’ dispiriting, 20-3 exhibition loss at Houston Saturday.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2025
Whether driven by social apathy or artistic passion, James—effortlessly played by O’Connor with hangdog elegance—registers as a compelling update of the ’70s American male loner archetype for another dispiriting, directionless time.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Rams want to start their nine-day road trip – to the East Coast and then London – with a victory, as well as bounce back from last week’s dispiriting loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
The Dolphins took an all-time dispiriting L in their 2025 opener to the Indianapolis Colts, the kind that prompts a players-only meeting after Week 1.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
There is no question that the study of history and its conflicts, injustices and exclusions can be dispiriting.
—Annie Polland, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
The Giants have dropped two division games to start their season — first a dispiriting 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders followed by a 40-37 heartbreaker to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
After Week 1, a dispiriting 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, those hopes had to be reeled in.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The endgame here of every state except maybe a few purple ones having representatives from only one party is really dispiriting — this clearly is not what the Congressional system was set up to be.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Similar condos are now being built from the Upper West Side (handsome) to Greenpoint (dispiriting).
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
In this excerpt, adapted from Seller’s memoir, Theater Kid (out on May 6 from Simon & Schuster), the producer lays out the musical’s long road from dispiriting workshop to its simultaneously triumphant and tragic first preview performance.
—Jeffrey Seller, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispiriting
Adjective
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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
Verb
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The initiative also coincides with the $100,000 H-1B application fee, introduced September 21, two days after the DOL announcement—a White House move aimed at discouraging bulk filings by staffing and outsourcing firms.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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After possibly allowing the opening touchdown to Browns tight end Harold Fannin, Spillane was everywhere; diagnosing run plays, discouraging throws and snagging an interception in the second half.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
-
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
Adjective
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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
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The work—in a way, a series of encounters with random elements of one-click consumerism, including coloring books and marketing guides for dentists—is tedious, repetitive, and demoralizing.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Land of Spooks is a phantasmagorical blend of twisting gothic spires, impossible land formations, and disconcerting expressionist proportions.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The findings are deeply disconcerting.—
Stephanie Silverman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Now the country can expect a drop in tourism and faces a daunting rebuilding effort.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
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Designing a landmark beside one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World would have been a daunting task for any architect.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To have two concussions in 12 days is troubling, particularly since Tanev had a concussion history prior to that.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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That’s troubling news for studio Neon and even scarier for writer/director Chris Stuckmann, a YouTube film critic from Ohio who made the leap to feature filmmaking in Hollywood thanks to Mike Flanagan.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That’s how troublesome Miami’s arsenal of weaponry has become.—
Omar Kelly
Updated October 31,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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After their heroic effort in Game 3 – six relievers held the Blue Jays scoreless for the final 11 innings of the 18-inning marathon – the Dodgers’ bullpen went back to their troublesome ways.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispiriting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispiriting. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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