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
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Some might take issue that actual recordings get used, but given the message this expertly made film so emphatically presents, that haunting voice makes the film all that more powerful, meaningful and dispiriting.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
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
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
Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
If all of that seems dispiriting then a look at the table from last season compared to this year might offer some relief.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
By studying the moon's size, the chemical makeup of its rocky core and the gravitational forces at work from the gas giant Jupiter, a team of scientists came to a conclusion that may be dispiriting to those searching for life beyond Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Navigating the city’s shelter system alone can be dispiriting and fruitless.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
In this dispiriting context, podcasts have grown all the more appealing.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Being alone at a romantic resort like Las Ventanas may sound dispiriting to some.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2025
Thanksgiving can be delightful or draining, a festive feast or a dispiriting dirge.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
The loss was particularly dispiriting given it came on the back of Sacramento’s first winning streak of the season with a victory Saturday in Denver — which ended an eight-game skid — and a win Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Others displays have felt more dispiriting.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Some might take issue that actual recordings get used, but given the message this expertly made film so emphatically presents, that haunting voice makes the film all that more powerful, meaningful and dispiriting.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
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
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
There’s no shortage of dispiriting news, but Wednesday’s gutting of the Washington Post staff was particularly lousy.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
If all of that seems dispiriting then a look at the table from last season compared to this year might offer some relief.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
By studying the moon's size, the chemical makeup of its rocky core and the gravitational forces at work from the gas giant Jupiter, a team of scientists came to a conclusion that may be dispiriting to those searching for life beyond Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Navigating the city’s shelter system alone can be dispiriting and fruitless.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
In this dispiriting context, podcasts have grown all the more appealing.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Being alone at a romantic resort like Las Ventanas may sound dispiriting to some.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2025
Thanksgiving can be delightful or draining, a festive feast or a dispiriting dirge.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
The loss was particularly dispiriting given it came on the back of Sacramento’s first winning streak of the season with a victory Saturday in Denver — which ended an eight-game skid — and a win Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispiriting
Adjective
-
The bump was later ruled a penalty, but the disheartening finish had Santos-Griswold considering retirement.—
Aliza Chasan,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
If right, their conclusion implies a disheartening lesson amid the otherwise-welcome news.—
Charles Fain Lehman,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the solution is as simple as Miss Manners issuing a polite, but stern, PSA or a witty bon mot discouraging this practice.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The networks told producers to return when it had been made, in part due to the economic climate discouraging buying.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The keenness of my letdown was dismaying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But there’s another side to this story, equally dismaying, which is the abandonment of dissidents as a public cause in the West.—
Bret Stephens,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
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
-
The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
-
After a demoralizing six-game losing streak that looked to have ended their playoff chances, the Leafs now appear to have life.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
None of the emails unearthed so far appear to indicate criminal activity, but are—like the photos—disconcerting.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Here, the opening sentence is disconcerting because the speaker is coming back to a physical space, but is returning from an absence, which is not a physical space.—
Akhil Sharma,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone knows a court-side basketball ticket calls for denim—or even an elevated sweatpant— but choosing the right pair of jeans can be a daunting task.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Rebuilding the Palestinian territory will be a daunting endeavor.—
Aamer Madhani,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
What’s even more troubling is how often discrimination and violence are witnessed and met with silence.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
What’s particularly troubling Green is that his utility company gave him no warning or explanation for the spike in costs.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispiriting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispiriting. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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