1
as in to frustrate
to lessen the courage or confidence of
I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dissuade
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discourage
Daily weight fluctuations are normal and shouldn't discourage weight loss efforts.
—
Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
This trust could discourage adoption of additional security tools or best practices.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The result is a system that seems deliberately made to frustrate and discourage people.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
To discourage ants from returning, inspect new plants, use a sticky barrier, or create a moat.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
This trust could discourage adoption of additional security tools or best practices.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The result is a system that seems deliberately made to frustrate and discourage people.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
To discourage ants from returning, inspect new plants, use a sticky barrier, or create a moat.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for discourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discourage
Verb
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The men's families and supporters were frustrated with the pace of the hearing.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
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Not being able to offer a heart-lung transplant in Austin frustrates Fraser.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Verb
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The disclosures aim to dissuade analysts from taking buy-side offers.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
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Ormond alleges that after the incident, her CAA agents sought to dissuade her from reporting it — a charge CAA also denies.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Goalkeepers can intimidate strikers into poor shooting decisions with a good stare-down.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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Cycling shoes can be intimidating—particularly the idea of wearing something that locks your feet right to your bike’s pedals.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
SELF,
23 July 2025
Verb
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The opposition parties' actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the island's democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 July 2025
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However, some professionals consulted as part of the analysis expressed concern that 18 was too young to receive such a generous basic income, and that this could deter them from pursuing employment.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Verb
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Don’t be daunted by official terms and names in the mattress world—they’re actually pretty straightforward.—
Julia Forbes,
Wired News,
27 June 2025
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But the law is not only harmful in its use: The mere threat of a CEQA lawsuit is enough to stifle new housing developments since such suits can add substantial time, cost and risk for builders who already face daunting construction costs.—
Daniel Yost,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Stink bugs tend to drop when frightened, so fill a cup with soapy water and hold it under the stink bug.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 July 2025
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What starts as a simple favor to keep her great-niece turns into a wild Halloween night filled with jump scares and pranks — but as usual, nothing frightens her more than bad manners and disrespect. Boo 2!—
Jane LaCroix,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discourage. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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