Discouraged — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /di-ˈskər-ij/ dis·cour·age

Meaning & Definition of Discouraged

Discouraged (verb)

  1. to deprive of courage or confidence, dishearten
  2. to hinder by disfavoring
  3. to dissuade or attempt to dissuade from doing something

Discouraged (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in prohibited, banned

    similar: banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, bootleg, smuggled, unapproved, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned, under-the-counter, under-the-table, criminal, felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, improper, unlawful, wrongful
    opposite: allowed, permitted, authorized, licensed, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported, correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemly, lawful, legal, legitimate

  2. as in disappointed, disheartened

    similar: abject, disappointed, disheartened, dispirited, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, gloomy, glum, hangdog, heartbroken, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, joyless, low, low-spirited, melancholy, miserable, mournful, sad, saddened, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone, woeful, wretched, grieving, wailing, weeping, despairing, desperate, despondent, forlorn, hopeless, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, drear, dreary, funereal, cynical, pessimistic, accepting, resigned
    opposite: hopeful, optimistic, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, blithe, blithesome, gay, jocund, jolly, jovial, lightsome, merry, mirthful, encouraged, heartened, animated, jaunty, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, blissful, buoyant, cheerful, cheery, chipper, delighted, glad, gladdened, gladsome, gleeful, happy, joyful, joyous, jubilant, sunny, upbeat

Discouraged (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lessen the courage or confidence of

    "I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again"

    similar: chilled, daunted, demoralized, disheartened, dismayed, dispirited, frustrated, unmanned, unnerved, threw cold water on
    related: browbeat, bullied, cowed, intimidated, depressed, saddened, weighed, afflicted, tried, damped, dampened, deadened, distressed, troubled, bothered, irked, vexed, worried, debilitated, enfeebled, undermined, weakened, frightened, horrified, scared
    opposite: emboldened, encouraged, heartened, nerved, steeled
    near: buoyed (up), cheered, gladdened, animated, enlivened, invigorated, enforced, fortified, reinforced, strengthened, assured, reassured, boosted, energized, excited, galvanized, inspired, lifted, provoked, quickened, rallied, stimulated, stirred

  2. to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action

    "the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway"

    similar: deterred, dissuaded, inhibited
    related: diverted, unsold, repelled
    opposite: encouraged, persuaded
    near: egged (on), exhorted, goaded, prodded, urged, impelled, induced, prompted

Related Entry: Discourage (verb)

Discourage is a different word from Discouraged. The synonyms below are for discourage, not for discouraged.

  1. to lessen the courage or confidence of

    "I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again"

    similar: chill, daunt, demoralize, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, frustrate, unman, unnerve, throw cold water on
    related: browbeat, bully, cow, intimidate, depress, sadden, weigh, afflict, try, damp, dampen, deaden, distress, trouble, bother, irk, vex, worry, debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken, frighten, horrify, scare
    opposite: embolden, encourage, hearten, nerve, steel
    near: buoy (up), cheer, gladden, animate, enliven, invigorate, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, assure, reassure, boost, energize, excite, galvanize, inspire, lift, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir

  2. to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action

    "the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway"

    similar: deter, dissuade, inhibit
    related: divert, unsell, repel
    opposite: encourage, persuade
    near: egg (on), exhort, goad, prod, urge, impel, induce, prompt

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Discouraged

The most common words with a similar meaning to Discouraged:

banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, bootleg, smuggled, unapproved, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned, under-the-counter, under-the-table, criminal, felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, improper, unlawful, wrongful, abject, disappointed, disheartened, dispirited, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Discouraged

Words with the opposite meaning of Discouraged:

allowed, permitted, authorized, licensed, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported, correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemly, lawful, legal, legitimate, hopeful, optimistic, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant

Related Words for Discouraged

browbeat, bullied, cowed, intimidated, weighed, afflicted, tried, damped, dampened, deadened, distressed, troubled, bothered, irked, vexed, worried, debilitated, enfeebled, undermined, weakened, frightened, horrified, scared, diverted, unsold, repelled

Near Antonyms of Discouraged

buoyed (up), cheered, enlivened, invigorated, enforced, fortified, reinforced, strengthened, assured, reassured, boosted, energized, excited, galvanized, inspired, lifted, provoked, quickened, rallied, stimulated, stirred, egged (on), exhorted, goaded, prodded, urged, impelled, induced, prompted

Word Forms of Discouraged

Inflections: discouraging

Derived words: discourageable (adjective), discourager (noun), discouragingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Discouraged

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

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Discouraged

What does "Discouraged" mean?

"Discouraged" means to deprive of courage or confidence, dishearten. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to deprive of courage or confidence, dishearten. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Discouraged"?

Other words for "Discouraged" include banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted and outlawed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Discouraged" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Discouraged"?

There are 120 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Discouraged". Common alternatives include banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited and proscribed.

What is the opposite of "Discouraged"?

Antonyms of "Discouraged" include allowed, permitted, authorized, licensed, approved, endorsed, sanctioned and abetted. Near antonyms include buoyed (up), cheered, enlivened and invigorated.

How do you use "Discouraged" in a sentence?

Examples of "Discouraged" in a sentence: "I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again"; "the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway".

Is "Discouraged" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Discouraged" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Discouraged"?

"Discouraged" is pronounced /di-ˈskər-ij/ and divided into syllables as dis·cour·age.

What is the origin of the word "Discouraged"?

"Discouraged" comes from Middle English discoragen, from Middle French descorager, from Old French descoragier, from des- dis- + corage courage. First known use: 15th century.