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 Employees also reported being required to work seven days a week, denied overtime pay, misclassified as independent contractors and discouraged from raising concerns about wages or treatment. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 2 July 2026 The lengthy delay to the funeral has raised questions about how Khamenei's remains have been preserved, as Islamic tradition, anaylsts say, generally calls for prompt burial and discourages chemical embalming. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 Mayor Simone Venturini told The Associated Press in an interview Friday that the current 10-euro fee for last-minute reservations has not done enough to discourage visitors on peak days. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 Conventional wisdom suggested that its political instability would discourage foreign capital while reinforcing China’s dominant commercial position. — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 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
  • Belgium looked limited and frustrated, with Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans heading into the second-half hydration break in the middle of an angry argument.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • Leaders using this phrase create an unsafe psychological environment, dissuading any dissent or improvement curiosity.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Nothing in your life has dissuaded you from these early surmises.
    — Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of dissuade
Verb
  • The parking at Krog Street Market can be intimidating, but there’s no need to try to navigate the valet or the small lot in the front of the market.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • The Oura Ring 4 has dropped to $399, cutting a cool $100 off the intimidating $499 list price.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 4 July 2026
Definition of intimidate
Verb
  • Dozens of artists including Billie Eilish, Hozier and Noah Kahan have since used it to enable fan-to-fan trading while deterring scalpers.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
  • It’s caged in by the lantern’s design, which deters squirrels and also creates less of a mess.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Definition of deter
Verb
  • Willy’s, the only LGBTQ+ bar in Wynwood, achieved a daunting feat in South Florida.
    — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Trying to piece this information together was daunting and complicated.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
Definition of daunt
Verb
  • At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on discourage

Nglish: Translation of discourage for Spanish Speakers

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