as in demoralizing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dissuading
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
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Recent Examples of discouraging
Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
The administration's actions are seen as expanding federal control and discouraging state innovation in healthcare programs.
—Steve Brozak, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Data indicates hundreds of popular titles have months-long waitlists — potentially discouraging library patrons and hurting circulation.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 26 Dec. 2024
For those who do report, the process is often re-traumatizing, further discouraging victims from seeking justice.
—Chloe Laws, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2024
Lawmakers hope to lower drug prices for patients, taxpayers and employers by discouraging those companies from steering patients toward more expensive drugs to bolster their own profits.
—Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
The report also accused Amazon of discouraging injured workers from seeking outside medical care.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
Cornell University began withholding early acceptance data with the Class of 2024, saying the reason for the change was to avoid discouraging qualified applicants by focusing on narrow acceptance rates.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Rejections can be discouraging, but a positive mindset is key to staying resilient in your job search.
—Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
Indoor humidity levels are low in winter, and a room humidifier can help plants avoid stress while discouraging pests like spider mites.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
The administration's actions are seen as expanding federal control and discouraging state innovation in healthcare programs.
—Steve Brozak, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Data indicates hundreds of popular titles have months-long waitlists — potentially discouraging library patrons and hurting circulation.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 26 Dec. 2024
For those who do report, the process is often re-traumatizing, further discouraging victims from seeking justice.
—Chloe Laws, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2024
Lawmakers hope to lower drug prices for patients, taxpayers and employers by discouraging those companies from steering patients toward more expensive drugs to bolster their own profits.
—Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
The report also accused Amazon of discouraging injured workers from seeking outside medical care.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
Cornell University began withholding early acceptance data with the Class of 2024, saying the reason for the change was to avoid discouraging qualified applicants by focusing on narrow acceptance rates.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Rejections can be discouraging, but a positive mindset is key to staying resilient in your job search.
—Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discouraging
Adjective
-
For the Congolese government, the ineffective Western responses follow a dismaying pattern.—
Michela Wrong,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.—
F.K. Plous,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Cal Fire has issued a red flag warning for the region, which is at risk of extreme wildfires fueled by daunting Santa Ana winds, low humidity and critically dry fuels.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The United States does face its own daunting array of problems abroad and at home, but these pale in comparison to those China faces.—
Jude Blanchette,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
This new era of AI can feel intimidating for the limited, human life forms that created it.—
Marc Zao-Sanders,
Harvard Business Review,
17 Dec. 2024
-
Only six years older than Crystal, the comedian still found Scorsese intimidating.—
Lester Fabian Brathwaite,
EW.com,
16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Brown said many large-cap stocks in the Nasdaq 100 index share troublesome characteristics with Tesla shares.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The ease with which people can bet from apps on their phones and the vast array of available bets make online sports wagering particularly troublesome, experts told NBC News.—
Jessica Boehm,
Axios,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The combination of a potential trade war and rising unemployment is particularly troubling news for consumer and business spending and has raised fears of a recession.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Clarence Thomas urges Supreme Court to revisit 'troubling' discrimination ruling Supreme Court to review Colorado 'conversion therapy' ban Now, the Firearms Policy Coalition and its allies are asking the Supreme Court to affirm that decision and set a nationwide precedent.—
Kaelan Deese,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Since October, the Vance edits have only become sweatier, more surreal, more upsetting to behold.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, recurring dreams that are upsetting can leave you with an emotional hangover the next day.—
Stacey Colino,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While no human-affecting viruses have been revived yet, the fact that ancient microbes can persist in a viable state raises a disturbing possibility: what else is hidden in the deep freeze, waiting to wake up?—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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The possibility of losing Miami Beach's only art house cinema is disturbing to Tabsch, a filmmaker whose 2018 documentary The Last Resort, was about Miami Beach's Jewish community in the 1970s.—
Mandalit del Barco,
NPR,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Collins and King have to work quickly for, well, not a long time, but long enough to be worrisome.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
-
More worrisome was the increase in congenital syphilis (newborns infected from their mothers) by 3% compared to the year before.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discouraging. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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