discouragement

[ dih-skur-ij-muhnt, -skuhr- ]

noun

1. an act or instance of discouraging.

   Antonyms: encouragement

2. the state of being discouraged.

   Synonyms: hopelessness, dejection, depression

   Antonyms: encouragement

3. something that discourages:

   Poor health and poverty are grave discouragements.

   Synonyms: obstruction, obstacle, impediment, damper, deterrent

   Antonyms: encouragement

Other Words From

• over·dis·courage·ment noun
• predis·courage·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discouragement¹

1555–65; < Middle French descouragement, Old French descoragement. See discourage, -ment

Synonym Study

See despair.

Example Sentences

So there’s potentially two levels of discouragement for these efforts.

From Time

Instead of succumbing to discouragement, he focused on solving the problems of turns and speed.

From Time

Higher grades could mean less discouragement from challenging subjects and maybe even greater confidence and persistence to graduation.

From Washington Post

Many faced discouragement from school officials in doing so.

From Washington Post

According to the unanimous testimony of the chroniclers, the English host was struck with serious discouragement.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Gryce and Miss Butterworth stepped at once into the light, and surveyed each other with a look of marked discouragement.

From Project Gutenberg

It crowds the hours, and accumulates until often discouragement and nervous exhaustion follow.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked at her in complete discouragement, and Amarita returned his gaze with one bespeaking a conviction of her own innocence.

From Project Gutenberg

A sense of discouragement regarding long distances was just at that moment the most remote sensation in Stanton's sensibilities.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hopelessness
• pessimism