discourage

verb

dis·​cour·​age di-ˈskər-ij How to pronounce discourage (audio)
-ˈskə-rij
discouraged; discouraging
Synonyms of discourage

transitive verb

1
: to deprive of courage or confidence : dishearten
was discouraged by repeated failure
2
a
: to hinder by disfavoring
trying to discourage absenteeism
b
: to dissuade or attempt to dissuade from doing something
tried to discourage her from going
discourageable
di-ˈskər-i-jə-bəl How to pronounce discourage (audio)
-ˈskə-ri-
adjective
discourager noun
discouragingly
di-ˈskər-i-jiŋ-lē How to pronounce discourage (audio)
-ˈkə-ri-
adverb

Synonyms of discourage

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Examples of discourage in a Sentence

Try not to let losing discourage you. The area's dry climate discourages agriculture. He claims the new regulations will discourage investment. That type of behavior ought to be discouraged.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Again, Donato said this additional step was unnecessary and seemed geared toward discouraging users from downloading alternative stores. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 Public health experts worry that conflicting messages will cause confusion, discouraging people from getting another shot. — Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 Silver discourages mildew, mold and bacterial growth through a natural chemical process. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 With these connections, people can use social media, play online poker, and—in theory—Zoom, though many airlines still forbid or discourage video calls. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discourage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discoragen, from Middle French descorager, from Old French descoragier, from des- dis- + corage courage

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of discourage was in the 15th century

Rhymes for discourage

See All Rhymes for discourage

Browse Nearby Words

discount rate
discourage
discouragedly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discourage. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

discourage

verb
dis·​cour·​age dis-ˈkər-ij How to pronounce discourage (audio)
-ˈkə-rij
discouraged; discouraging
1
: to lessen the courage or confidence of : dishearten
didn't let losing discourage me
2
a
: to make less likely or appealing : deter
laws that discourage speeding
b
: to advise against a course of action : dissuade
discouraged careless work
discouragingly
-iŋ-lē How to pronounce discourage (audio)
adverb

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