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
Relevance
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
Advertising was discouraged and even banned.
—
Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Trump’s policies likely will continue to discourage hiring in the months ahead, forecasters say.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Higher parking rates hurt low-wage workers, burden small businesses, and discourage both locals and tourists from coming downtown to shop, dine or attend special events.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Days later, Kraft reportedly discouraged the Falcons from hiring Belichick as their next head coach.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Trump’s policies likely will continue to discourage hiring in the months ahead, forecasters say.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Higher parking rates hurt low-wage workers, burden small businesses, and discourage both locals and tourists from coming downtown to shop, dine or attend special events.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Days later, Kraft reportedly discouraged the Falcons from hiring Belichick as their next head coach.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage
Verb
-
Ciccone was frustrated to find research was largely focused on boys.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
It’s left supporters on Capitol Hill delighted, frustrated, or wondering what’s next.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Riley Keough tried to dissuade her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley, from suing her grandmother, Priscilla Presley.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Even the creaky visions that start to plague him, the terrifying nightmares (jump scares ahoy, and so many of them cheap) can’t dissuade Charles from taking up Anniston on the offer.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Assaults by the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club are often committed in order to protect and expand territory, intimidate rivals, conceal members from law enforcement and advance extracurricular criminal projects, according to the 2024 indictment.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the President can use the National Guard to intimidate blue-state citizens, and no one can stop him; a mogul can shield billions in income from tax; and voters can find their districts redrawn overnight.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That being said, the marginal increase hasn’t been enough to deter investors from their dovish hopes.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
-
States’ restitution penalties are established to deter poaching, but also to ensure the wildlife agency is reimbursed for the loss of a poached trophy animal.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What’s more, a lot of Americans still have mortgage rates that are low enough to make the idea of a move daunting, and affordability overall hasn’t improved much even as the economy has softened.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The challenges are enormous, the hurdles daunting, the giants advantaged—but that’s what makes the opportunity so electric.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Judy Hernandez’ husband Raul, a co-founder of the community group the Resurrection Project, dismissed those plans as a political stunt geared to create fear and frighten Spanish-speaking people.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Many of us are conditioned to think that our ultimate goal in life is to be with someone, so much so, that the mere thought of being alone frightens us.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share