Discouraging: meaning, definitions and examples

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discouraging

 

[ dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

Causing someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm; disheartening.

Synonyms

demoralizing, deterrent, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting

Examples of usage

  • The constant criticism from his boss was discouraging him from pursuing his dreams.
  • The discouraging feedback on her artwork made her consider giving up on her passion.
Context #2 | Verb

action

To try to persuade someone not to do something.

Synonyms

advise against, deter, dissuade, put off

Examples of usage

  • She was discouraging him from taking the job offer due to the long hours.
  • The coach discouraged his team from giving up by inspiring them with motivational speeches.

Translations

Translations of the word "discouraging" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desanimador

🇮🇳 हतोत्साहित करने वाला

🇩🇪 entmutigend

🇮🇩 mengesalkan

🇺🇦 зневіряючий

🇵🇱 zniechęcający

🇯🇵 気落ちさせる

🇫🇷 décourageant

🇪🇸 desalentador

🇹🇷 cesaret kırıcı

🇰🇷 낙담시키는

🇸🇦 محبط

🇨🇿 odrazující

🇸🇰 odrádzajúci

🇨🇳 令人沮丧的

🇸🇮 razočarajoč

🇮🇸 letjandi

🇰🇿 жүдететін

🇬🇪 გამამხნევებელი

🇦🇿 həvəsdən salan

🇲🇽 desalentador

Etymology

The word 'discouraging' originated from the Old French word 'descoragier' in the 14th century, which means 'to lose heart or confidence.' Over time, it evolved to its current usage in English to describe something that causes a loss of enthusiasm or confidence. The concept of discouragement has been prevalent throughout history, with various societies and individuals experiencing moments of feeling discouraged in the face of challenges.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,254, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.