discourage
6 synonyms and 1 antonyms for discourage, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make someone feel less confident, hopeful, or motivated.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use discourage
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French descouragier, built from des- ("dis-") plus corage ("courage, heart").
Full origin of discourage →Frequently asked questions
What does “discourage” mean?
The word “discourage” means to make someone feel less confident, hopeful, or motivated. In plain terms, to take away someone's confidence or motivation, or to talk them out of doing something.
How do you pronounce “discourage”?
“Discourage” is pronounced dihs-KUH-rihj (/dɪsˈkɝɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “discourage” in a sentence?
Here is “discourage” used in a sentence: “Repeated rejection can discourage even the most determined writer.”
What is another word for “discourage”?
Words with a similar meaning to “discourage” include daunt, deter and dissuade.
What is the opposite of “discourage”?
The opposite of “discourage” — its antonyms — is encourage.
What part of speech is “discourage”?
“Discourage” is a verb.
Where does the word “discourage” come from?
The word “discourage” comes from Old French. From Old French descouragier, built from des- ("dis-") plus corage ("courage, heart").
Is “discourage” a common word?
“Discourage” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between discourage and dissuade?
Discourage often means to reduce someone's confidence or motivation in general, while dissuade specifically means to persuade someone not to take a particular action, usually through argument or advice. You can discourage someone's enthusiasm broadly, but you dissuade someone from a specific decision.
How is discourage used with the preposition from?
Discourage is commonly followed by from plus a verb in the -ing form, as in the rain discouraged people from going outside. This structure shows the action someone is being deterred from taking.
Can discourage describe an effect on morale rather than a specific action?
Yes, discourage can describe a general loss of confidence or hope, as in repeated failures discouraged the team, without referring to any single action being prevented. This broader sense affects mood or motivation rather than a specific decision.