tr.v. dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing, dis·cour·ag·es 1. To deprive of confidence, hope, or spirit: Making so little progress after so much effort discouraged us. 2. To dissuade or deter (someone) from doing something: My adviser discouraged me from applying to big universities. 3. To try to prevent by expressing disapproval or raising objections: The agency discouraged all travel to the areas hardest hit by the disease. [Middle English discoragen, from Old French descoragier : des-, dis- + corage, courage; see COURAGE.] dis·courage·a·ble adj. dis·courag·er n. dis·courag·ing·ly adv. Synonyms: discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit These verbs mean to make less hopeful or enthusiastic: researchers who were discouraged by the problem's magnitude; apathy that disheartened the instructor; did not let the technical difficulties dismay them; a failure that dispirited the team. Antonym: encourage |
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