as in despair
the state of being discouraged
I tried desperately to avoid discouragement after failing the bar exam twice
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Recent Examples of discouragement
This leads to feelings of disengagement, discouragement and exhaustion.
—
Jack Kelly, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
This isn’t just a lesson kids need to hear; parents deal with failure and discouragement too.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024
But since that development in August, there has not been a more forceful public declaration of that new position from the US government — to the discouragement of some advocates.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 24 Sep. 2024
Undoubtedly, there is much ground for discouragement.
—Thomas Carothers, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2017
See all Example Sentences for discouragement 
Jack Kelly, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
This isn’t just a lesson kids need to hear; parents deal with failure and discouragement too.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024
But since that development in August, there has not been a more forceful public declaration of that new position from the US government — to the discouragement of some advocates.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 24 Sep. 2024
Undoubtedly, there is much ground for discouragement.
—Thomas Carothers, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2017
See all Example Sentences for discouragement
Thesaurus Entries Near discouragement
Cite this Entry
“Discouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouragement. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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