də̇ˈskər.]ij, -kə.r], ]ēj, esp in pres part ]əj verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French descorager, descourager, from Old French descoragier, from des- dis- (I) + corage courage — more at courage
transitive verb
1. : to deprive of courage or confidence : dishearten , deject
loss of the bastion greatly discouraged the besieged garrison
a succession of failures discouraged the young inventor
2.
a. : to seek to check, hinder, or deter by disfavoring
discourage gambling by legislative enactment
: deter , hinder
a condition of feudal anarchy discouraged the growth of trade
the aridity of the soil discouraged agriculture
b. : to attempt to dissuade from some action : dampen or lessen the boldness or zeal of for some action
discouraged his son from pursuing a literary career
a table-high platform … with a rail around it to discourage souvenir snatchers — Green Peyton
intransitive verb
: to lose courage or heart
I don't discourage easily
Synonyms:
discourage , dishearten , dispirit , deject : discourage implies loss of courage, confidence, and resolution, along with the sapping effect of fear and doubt and inability to muster up further hope and determination
these accidents did great damage, and discouraged the French mariners to such a degree, that they became more afraid of their own guns than of those of the English — Tobias Smollett
dishearten is a close synonym of discourage; it may indicate temporary loss of heart or courage
the days came, but not the visitor, though Lucetta repeated her dressing with scrupulous care. She was disheartened — Thomas Hardy
a difficult undertaking that might have disheartened one less buoyant — Vera M. Dean
dispirit may indicate enervation, depriving of all cheer, and surrender to gloom
in quelling a local Armenian revolt he was badly wounded. Sick and dispirited, he gave up his Arabian plan — John Buchan
the shabby, dispiriting spectacle of Versailles, with its base greeds and timidities — C.E.Montague
deject implies a general casting down of spirits and a driving away of hope and cheer
I pitied poor Miss Read's unfortunate situation. She was generally dejected, seldom cheerful, and avoided company — Benjamin Franklin
the dejected appearance that is usually found only in the faces of old men who have been disappointed in life — Liam O'Flaherty
Synonym: see in addition dissuade .