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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disheartening
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Recent Examples of dispiriting
Dan Duggan, New York Times, 29 Sep. 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
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
One particularly dispiriting departure is that of Peter Marks, the longtime leader of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
With three straight dispiriting losses to start this season, and a 3-17 record since the start of last season, Daboll could feel the heat.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 29 Sep. 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
Adjective
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
One particularly dispiriting departure is that of Peter Marks, the longtime leader of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispiriting
Verb
-
In fact, immunization is a dicey-enough financial proposition that the administration’s anti-vaccine policies already are discouraging providers from stocking some immunizations.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Before her groundbreaking discoveries made headlines around the world, Goodall endured long, discouraging stretches in the field.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
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
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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
-
The first came at a demoralizing time for the Patriots’ offense.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The Indianapolis City-County Council is nearing a key vote that will end in either a demoralizing defeat for Google or the city approving a major data center against the wishes of the councilor and residents on the southeast side of the city.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The french fries had a disconcerting astringency, like they’d been dusted in the same stuff that’s put on Hint of Lime Tostitos.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
-
But the evidence lately is disconcerting.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Replacing Travis Hunter on defense Finding a way to replace Hunter was always going to be a daunting task, as the Heisman Trophy winner served as Colorado’s best wide receiver and cornerback.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Following up a beloved modern classic and a near-flawless rollout was always going to be a daunting task, especially seven years later.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane forecasters are watching three major risk factors for people across a swath of the East Coast, a complex dance of weather that has led to a troubling forecast for late September.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, at that film’s Berlin Film Festival premiere, its star Nourou (Jean-Christophe Folly) is in freefall after a racially troubling run-in with a Polish hotel security heavy.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Common Challenges and Solutions Botrytis blight and mildew can be troublesome for peonies thanks to the heat and humidity in the South.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Radon gas, a decay product of elements formed billions of years ago during the solar system’s birth, is especially troublesome.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispiriting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispiriting. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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