as in discouraging
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as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
we were disheartened by the news that our grandmother was seriously ill
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disheartening
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
Troy Rice, like most golfers, says few things are more disheartening than slicing the ball on a swing that feels good.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Even Vancouver’s younger developmental players appear to be stagnating, a disheartening undercurrent to these early days in Vancouver’s latest unintentional rebuilding effort.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Looking at the year ahead, the picture doesn’t look too pretty—and looking back, there’s some disheartening déjà vu.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
The truth is too disheartening.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The bump was later ruled a penalty, but the disheartening finish had Santos-Griswold considering retirement.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
If right, their conclusion implies a disheartening lesson amid the otherwise-welcome news.
—Charles Fain Lehman, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Dallas is coming off a disheartening loss on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and has lost 10 of its last 12 games.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Listening to naysayers in Congress twist themselves into pretzels condemning the ayatollah and his brutal repressive regime, but offering no solutions whatsoever, has been disheartening.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
Throughout the Heat’s rollercoaster that delivered them to Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers after Tuesday night’s disheartening loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of the two-game trip, Spoelstra has prioritized Jaquez’s role with the second team.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
An odd and disheartening weekend for independent film is now in the rear view.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Assistance from other churches The fire in their beloved church has been disheartening, Afanasyev said.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
That’s also why there’s something especially disheartening about mediocrity on a grand scale, as with the glut of overproduced, overblown franchise films, which lack both personalized imagination and the more modest virtue of clear observation.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Kelce went deeper on what has been disheartening this season.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Nov. 2025
As for the media coverage surrounding his death, the false narratives are disheartening and disrespectful to the legacy of a wonderful man.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The disheartening shift has continued since Katherine, whose name CNN agreed to change to protect her privacy, gave birth to her daughter.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
Troy Rice, like most golfers, says few things are more disheartening than slicing the ball on a swing that feels good.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Even Vancouver’s younger developmental players appear to be stagnating, a disheartening undercurrent to these early days in Vancouver’s latest unintentional rebuilding effort.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Looking at the year ahead, the picture doesn’t look too pretty—and looking back, there’s some disheartening déjà vu.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
The truth is too disheartening.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The bump was later ruled a penalty, but the disheartening finish had Santos-Griswold considering retirement.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
If right, their conclusion implies a disheartening lesson amid the otherwise-welcome news.
—Charles Fain Lehman, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Dallas is coming off a disheartening loss on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and has lost 10 of its last 12 games.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
Still, hearing that it was recommended was disheartening for Laird.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Listening to naysayers in Congress twist themselves into pretzels condemning the ayatollah and his brutal repressive regime, but offering no solutions whatsoever, has been disheartening.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
Throughout the Heat’s rollercoaster that delivered them to Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers after Tuesday night’s disheartening loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of the two-game trip, Spoelstra has prioritized Jaquez’s role with the second team.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
An odd and disheartening weekend for independent film is now in the rear view.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Assistance from other churches The fire in their beloved church has been disheartening, Afanasyev said.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
That’s also why there’s something especially disheartening about mediocrity on a grand scale, as with the glut of overproduced, overblown franchise films, which lack both personalized imagination and the more modest virtue of clear observation.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Kelce went deeper on what has been disheartening this season.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Nov. 2025
As for the media coverage surrounding his death, the false narratives are disheartening and disrespectful to the legacy of a wonderful man.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheartening
Adjective
-
Ninth-grader Kallan Forsyth said the strict dress code can feel discouraging, but earning sneaker day feels rewarding.—
Alexa Liacko,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
My own watch party got off to a discouraging start.—
Steven P. Dinkin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
That alone would be disconcerting, but that the line (dubbed the Petrova Line, after the scientist who discovered it) seems to be linked to a new, gradual dimming of the sun?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The keenness of my letdown was dismaying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But there’s another side to this story, equally dismaying, which is the abandonment of dissidents as a public cause in the West.—
Bret Stephens,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On the surface, that defeat should have been demoralizing, but the reality was very different.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Uddin said there are challenges to operating a food pantry at a high volume, but none more dispiriting than having to say no.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The 5-2 loss was Toronto’s third straight coming out of the Olympic break and third straight display of dejected, dispiriting, flat and admittedly embarrassing hockey.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
My mom is a hairstylist and is on her feet all day, so wearing uncomfortable high heels for hours at a wedding is a daunting task.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Choosing what to perform would seem a daunting task, given the world’s vast musical catalog and how many pieces are required for a show like the Oscars.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And just over two months into this calendar year, at least 11 people have died in ICE detention – a trend that’s sparked concern from those who track these numbers and see them as a troubling indicator of widespread problems in the detention system.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Coming off the muddled, troubling end to the regular season, with two of their best wins, and their two worst losses within the last handful of games, the UConn men needed a play to start the healing process.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disheartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheartening. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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