discouraged

[ dih-skur-ijd, -skuhr- ]

adjective

1. deprived of or lacking in courage, hope, or confidence:

   The discouraged writer discarded the poem, but it was retrieved by a young soldier who sent it off for publication.

   Another discouraged mother reported that she had no friends with whom to share childcare duties.

2. dissuaded or obstructed from doing something:

   A third of the discouraged firms would probably have qualified for loans had they applied.

   A discouraged worker is one who wants to work but is not looking for a job because of a perceived lack of demand.

3. disapproved of:

   Climbing on the safety railing is a strongly discouraged activity.

   We consider payday lenders to be a discouraged industry.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of discourage ( def ).

Other Words From

• un·dis·cour·aged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discouraged¹

discourage ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Planes were grounded, construction work halted, and car honking discouraged as the Suneung, an eight-hour university placement exam billed as one of the toughest in the world, kicked off on Thursday.

From BBC

Rob Reynolds, an Iraq war veteran who acts as a spokesman for the plaintiff veterans, said they are upset but not discouraged.

From Los Angeles Times

Maria Stewart, for example, exhorted her listeners by claiming, “Do not let your hearts be any longer discouraged; it is no use to murmur nor to repine; but let us promote ourselves and improve our own talents.”

From Salon

“If you are feeling deflated or discouraged today, I get it. Take some time. Take care of yourselves, take care of your loved ones, take care of your community,” Walz said.

From Salon

Some sheriffs rejected the arrangements entirely on the grounds that they sowed mistrust and discouraged immigrants from calling 911.

From Slate

Related Words

• crestfallen
• depressed
• dismayed
• pessimistic