1
as in frustrates
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 dissuades
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
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Recent Examples of discourages
The movement's website explicitly discourages participants from bringing weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted.
—
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Luckily, lots of matcha cups also come with a whisk holder, which discourages bacteria formation—like this handmade set that will easily fit in with your robust collection of Italian splatterware.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources discourages people from keeping wild animals as pets.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Allowing more sunlight in also discourages the growth of mold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
The edges of the rug are reinforced with a self-binding technique that discourages loose threads and encourages the sides to lie flat, mitigating tripping hazards.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Psilocybin encourages hair growth and discourages graying in mice.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
When that environment potentially discourages risk-taking, open dialogue, or resilience, the intangible ROI of college erodes.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Also tamping down interest in visiting the big trees is the fact that the park management actively discourages visitors from identifying the tallest trees.
—Greg Sullivan, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Luckily, lots of matcha cups also come with a whisk holder, which discourages bacteria formation—like this handmade set that will easily fit in with your robust collection of Italian splatterware.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources discourages people from keeping wild animals as pets.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Allowing more sunlight in also discourages the growth of mold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
The edges of the rug are reinforced with a self-binding technique that discourages loose threads and encourages the sides to lie flat, mitigating tripping hazards.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Psilocybin encourages hair growth and discourages graying in mice.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
When that environment potentially discourages risk-taking, open dialogue, or resilience, the intangible ROI of college erodes.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Also tamping down interest in visiting the big trees is the fact that the park management actively discourages visitors from identifying the tallest trees.
—Greg Sullivan, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourages
Verb
-
That doesn’t always come in the form of on-court minutes, which frustrates segments of the fan base.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
14 Oct. 2025
-
This inconsistency frustrates drivers and reduces their confidence in public charging networks, further slowing EV adoption.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the velvety elegance of Paris, Jacques (Guillaume des Forêts, nearly a Timothée Chalamet look-alike), a floppy-haired painter, dissuades Marthe (Isabelle Weingarten) from jumping into the Seine when her fiancé abandons her.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With a name inspired by unity, strength and joy, Zayu transforms on the pitch as a striker, showcasing exceptional ingenuity and agility that intimidates defenders.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Choose one that deters all but the most determined squirrels and place it away from your bulb bed.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
To be sure, more frequent exams can increase the chances of false positives—a stressful experience that sometimes deters future screenings.—
Jennie Durant,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourages. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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