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discourage definition

dis·cour·age (di skʉr′ij)

transitive verb discouraged -·aged, discouraging -·ag·ing

  1. to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten
  2. to advise or persuade (a person) to refrain
  3. to prevent or try to prevent by disapproving or raising objections or obstacles

Etymology: ME discoragen < OFr descoragier: see dis- & courage

intransitive verb

to become discouraged

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

discourage Synonyms

discourage

v.

  1. To dishearten

    dispirit, dampen, dismay, daunt, intimidate, demoralize, repress, dampen the spirits, deprive of courage, lessen the self-confidence of, break one's heart, deject, prostrate, unnerve, scare, confuse, overawe, cow, bully, cast down, chill, damp, unman, throw a wet blanket on*, throw cold water on*, beat down, cast gloom upon, dash one's hopes; see also depress 2, frighten 1.

    Antonyms encourage*, cheer*, inspire. *

  2. To warn

    dissuade, alarm, disincline, talk out of; see warn 1.

  3. To restrain

    obstruct, impede, hinder, check, quiet, interfere with, withhold, keep back, inhibit, dissuade, disincline, curb, deter, control, turn aside, hold back, hold off, repress; see also restrain 1.

    Antonyms help*, expedite*, facilitate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

discourage Usage Examples

Object

  • vermin: Eliminates wastage, discourages vermin, fresh/dry food every peck.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • such: Staff discourage discrimination such as racism, sexism and discrimination arising from disability.

Used with why or when

  • when: CAR thieves: Don't be discouraged when nothing is on view.

Preposition: in

  • favor: Private and personal arrangements between the employer and individual staff should be discouraged in favor of open, transparent, agreed and collective arrangements.

Preposition: for

  • reason: This practice is discouraged primarily for reasons of performance.

Preposition: by

  • lack: They both became discouraged by the lack of response of the coastal peoples.
discourage usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

discourage quotes

I occasionally play works by contemporary composers and for two reasons. First, to discourage the composer from writing any more, and secondly to remind myself how much I appreciate Beethoven.

-Heifetz,Jascha

Most of our pocket wisdom is conceived for the use of mediocre people, to discourage them from ambitious attempts, and generally console them in their mediocrity.

-Stevenson, Robert Louis

discourage quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"discourage." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/discourage>

APA Style

discourage. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/discourage

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