Synonyms of throw cold water on

throw cold water on

phrase

as in discourage

to lessen the courage or confidence of

Her parents threw cold water on her dream of becoming a poet.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discourage
• frustrate
• chill
• cow
• scare
• trouble
• dismay
• intimidate
• demoralize
• frighten
• bother
• distress
• dishearten
• dispirit
• unman
• worry
• weigh
• bully
• try
• afflict
• undermine
• unnerve
• depress
• daunt
• damp
• browbeat
• weaken
• horrify
• dampen
• deaden
• sadden
• enfeeble
• debilitate
• vex
• irk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• steel
• nerve
• encourage
• buoy (up)
• cheer
• enforce
• animate
• reinforce
• strengthen
• assure
• embolden
• hearten
• stimulate
• lift
• stir
• gladden
• enliven
• fortify
• reassure
• rally
• inspire
• boost
• invigorate
• provoke
• excite
• energize
• galvanize
• quicken

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of throw cold water on

Manuel defended his record to the end, responding to several media outlets last week to throw cold water on reports that his exit was imminent. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 21 July 2026

The future Hall of Famer threw cold water on the idea of making a comeback while on the red carpet. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

For their part, Cavanagh and his Comcast colleagues moved quickly on Monday to throw cold water on the notion that this spinoff is about selling off bits and pieces of the company. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 1 July 2026