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

Likewise, members of the massive 1D group on Reddit reminded members that “memorials are for fans, funerals are for family” and discouraged them from approaching the pop stars and mourners.

From Los Angeles Times

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

“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

“They don’t want a vibrant Congress where great questions are debated and decided in front of the American people. They don’t want empowered members. They want discouraged and bored backbenchers.”

From Salon

Related Words

• crestfallen
• depressed
• dismayed
• pessimistic