as in demoralizing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dissuading
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discouraging
Andy Rose, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Still, the latest uptick is a discouraging sign for house hunters as the spring buying season kicks off.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
My own watch party got off to a discouraging start.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Admittedly, someone older might be critical or discouraging.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Yet seldom is heard a discouraging word when Darnold assesses what happened in New York, Carolina, San Francisco, or Minnesota.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Their status has been diminished by what has — charitably — been a really discouraging decade, featuring two separate relegations.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
High taxes squeeze margins and send a discouraging signal to firms.
—Andrew Rein, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
But because we’re consistently inundated with longevity hacks and social media challenges touted as the key to a long life, it can be challenging and almost discouraging to figure out what actually works for us on a personal level.
—The Editors, Outside, 25 Dec. 2025
Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Far from discouraging us, Frank’s passing reminds us that the history of architecture is one of continual renewal.
—Norman Foster, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Excluding programs that prepare individuals to work with survivors of domestic violence from the professional degree designation risks discouraging entry into these professions nationwide.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Not that those numbers showed any sign of discouraging any of the single-digit candidates, with two low-pollers, Betty Yee and Xavier Becerra, launching new ad campaigns this week.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Last spring, a letter was sent to Senators season ticket holders discouraging them from transferring their tickets to rival fans ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Maple Leafs.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
For supply siders, higher taxes are like kryptonite to an economy, discouraging businesses from investing and damping entrepreneurial activity.
—Robert Burgess, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
The policy shift followed major changes in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, further tightening supply to Cuba and discouraging other tankers from approaching its ports.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Both hosts often wept as Guthrie described her emotional journey through the increasingly discouraging investigation into her mother’s whereabouts.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Still, the latest uptick is a discouraging sign for house hunters as the spring buying season kicks off.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
My own watch party got off to a discouraging start.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Admittedly, someone older might be critical or discouraging.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Yet seldom is heard a discouraging word when Darnold assesses what happened in New York, Carolina, San Francisco, or Minnesota.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Their status has been diminished by what has — charitably — been a really discouraging decade, featuring two separate relegations.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
High taxes squeeze margins and send a discouraging signal to firms.
—Andrew Rein, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
But because we’re consistently inundated with longevity hacks and social media challenges touted as the key to a long life, it can be challenging and almost discouraging to figure out what actually works for us on a personal level.
—The Editors, Outside, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
These interconnected policies demonstrate an intentional effort to reshape the American electorate by discouraging nonwhite immigration and citizenship.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Far from discouraging us, Frank’s passing reminds us that the history of architecture is one of continual renewal.
—Norman Foster, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Excluding programs that prepare individuals to work with survivors of domestic violence from the professional degree designation risks discouraging entry into these professions nationwide.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Not that those numbers showed any sign of discouraging any of the single-digit candidates, with two low-pollers, Betty Yee and Xavier Becerra, launching new ad campaigns this week.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Last spring, a letter was sent to Senators season ticket holders discouraging them from transferring their tickets to rival fans ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Maple Leafs.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
For supply siders, higher taxes are like kryptonite to an economy, discouraging businesses from investing and damping entrepreneurial activity.
—Robert Burgess, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
The policy shift followed major changes in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, further tightening supply to Cuba and discouraging other tankers from approaching its ports.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Adjective
-
The Heat repeatedly allowed open shots and unchallenged forays to the basket in another demoralizing and disgraceful defensive display, one made all the worse by the fact the Heat is fighting for playoff seeding.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Nothing is more demoralizing for a team trying to regain its balance than having its outcome determined by the third inning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 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
Verb
-
But the report said those efforts would have limited effects in dissuading someone who has a gambling addiction.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Trump, just as the vote was wrapping up, issued a primary threat against those who opposed his tariff regime — potentially dissuading some Republicans running in tight seats from backing Democrats’ tariff resolutions.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The crocodile’s rare appearance represented a disheartening degradation but a hopeful sign of what the Niger Delta, if salvaged, can still become — an eco-diverse paradise akin to the Amazon or Costa Rica, that feeds its populace and attracts foreign visitors wanting to witness nature’s glory.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
With the next five against the Lakers, Rockets, Spurs, Cavaliers and Cavaliers, there will be the opportunity for statement wins to follow, after the disheartening losses to the Magic and Hornets.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Changes to federal student loan regulations have raised concerns across the country about how medical students entering school in the coming academic year will be able to cover a medical degree’s daunting price tag.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As if that isn’t daunting enough, Yahoo also will be vying against other popular AI chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude in addition to answer engines such as Perplexity.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But none are deterring Barclays' bright outlook for equities.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The group's comeback follows a nearly four-year hiatus driven by South Korea’s mandatory military service, which requires most able-bodied men to serve 18 to 21 months under a conscription system aimed at deterring aggression from North Korea.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 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
-
General Daily Insight for March 27, 2026 Having fun can make intimidating schedules much easier to handle.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But those projects can be expensive to design and intimidating to apply for.—
Mark Dee
March 27,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
