discourage
dihs-KUH-rihj
Discourage (verb) means to make someone feel less confident, hopeful, or motivated. Example: “Repeated rejection can discourage even the most determined writer.”
verb
1
To make someone feel less confident, hopeful, or motivated.
"Repeated rejection can discourage even the most determined writer."
"Don't let one bad review discourage you from trying again."
"Harsh criticism can discourage a child who is learning to paint."
2
To persuade someone not to do something.
"Her parents tried to discourage her from moving abroad alone."
"The signs discourage visitors from feeding the ducks."
"The doctor tried to discourage him from skipping meals."
How to use discourage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take away someone's confidence or motivation, or to talk them out of doing something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
discourage someone from
feel discouraged
strongly discourage
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like discourage.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- discourages
- Past tense
- discouraged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Repeated rejection can _____ even the most determined writer.
Etymology
From Old French descouragier, built from des- ("dis-") plus corage ("courage, heart").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for discourage
See all rhymes for 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.
