— discourager , n. — discourageable , adj. — discouragingly , adv.
/di skerr"ij, -skur"-/ , v. , discouraged, discouraging .
v.t.
1. to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
2. to dissuade (usually fol. by from ).
3. to obstruct by opposition or difficulty; hinder: Low prices discourage industry.
4. to express or make clear disapproval of; frown upon: to discourage the expression of enthusiasm.
v.i.
5. to become discouraged: a person who discourages easily.
[ 1400-50; late ME discoragen descorager, OF descoragier. See DIS- 1 , COURAGE ]
Syn. 1. daunt, depress, deject, overawe, cow, abash. DISCOURAGE, DISMAY, INTIMIDATE mean to dishearten or frighten. To DISCOURAGE is to dishearten by expressing disapproval or by suggesting that a contemplated action or course will probably fail: He was discouraged from going into business. To DISMAY is to dishearten completely: Her husband's philandering dismayed her. To INTIMIDATE is to frighten, as by threats of force, violence, or dire consequences: to intimidate a witness.
Ant. 1. encourage.