discourage

verb

di-ˈskər-ij How to pronounce discourage (audio)
Definition of discouragenext
1
as in to frustrate
to lessen the courage or confidence of I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dissuade
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of discourage 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 Meanwhile, the county’s task-force process seems almost designed to discourage transformational ideas. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage
  1. frustrate
  2. dissuade
  3. intimidate
  4. deter
  5. daunt
  6. frighten
Verb
  • During the joint practices against Tampa Bay, Bailey frustrated the Buccaneers’ offensive line with his lightning-fast speed off the edge, along with his penchant for consistently getting into the backfield.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Daron Acemoglu is frustrated by the artificial intelligence debate — and not because the MIT economist thinks the technology is dangerous.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • The high risk of – and challenges of addressing – oil spills and other safety incidents in the hostile Arctic climate are another dissuading factor, as are environmental costs of operating there.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Trump may be taking a risk by leaning into this more, though, because Democrats may be dissuaded by his close involvement in the bill.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissuade
Verb
  • Guimaraes’ arrival takes Arsenal’s midfield from impressive to seriously intimidating.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • One supervisor described O'Neill's behavior as bullying and an attempt to intimidate.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of intimidate
Verb
  • CAPTCHAs were developed to deter and detect spam, worms, and bots, and, later, to defend against disinformation campaigns, election interference, and acts of cyberterrorism.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • His job is the installation of decibel meters, which trigger a glaring blue light when excessive levels of noise are reached — as happens here, though the rowdy patrons aren’t deterred.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of deter
Verb
  • Patients often worry that the process will be daunting, Hosseinzadeh said, but clinics offer support throughout.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Decoding these different rules and regulations can feel daunting.
    — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of daunt
Verb
  • Diego Gomez is a stop-gap alternative, but Mitoma remains a key figure who frightens opposing defences with his dribbling speed and influential record in the top flight.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • But what frightened me most was not death alone, but the idea of dying before my writings reached the world—that my story would disappear with me, and that my feelings, my memories, my identity, and my human experience would be erased.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of frighten

Browse Nearby Words

discounts
discourage
discouraged
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Cite this Entry

“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on discourage

Nglish: Translation of discourage for Spanish Speakers

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