discouragement

noun

dis·​cour·​age·​ment di-ˈskər-ij-mənt 

-ˈkə-rij-

1

: the act of discouraging : the state of being discouraged

2

: something that discourages

Synonyms

• demoralization
• despair
• despondency
• disheartenment
• dismay
• dispiritedness

Examples of discouragement in a Sentence

the discouragement of drug use among teenagers

She expressed discouragement over the difficulty of finding a good job.

The team's losses have left fans with a feeling of discouragement.

He says that the tax is a discouragement to doing business in this state.

Despite the discouragements of the past week, we need to continue moving forward.

Recent Examples on the Web

This leads to feelings of disengagement, discouragement and exhaustion. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

This isn’t just a lesson kids need to hear; parents deal with failure and discouragement too. —Kara Nesvig, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024

But since that development in August, there has not been a more forceful public declaration of that new position from the US government — to the discouragement of some advocates. —Dylan Scott, Vox, 24 Sep. 2024

Undoubtedly, there is much ground for discouragement. —Thomas Carothers, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

discouragement

noun

dis·​cour·​age·​ment dis-ˈkər-ij-mənt 

-ˈkə-rij-

1

: an act of discouraging : the state of being discouraged

2

: something that discourages