discourage

English

Etymology

From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. Surface analysis dis- +‎ courage.

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /dɪsˈkʌɹɪd͡ʒ/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /dɪsˈkɝɪd͡ʒ/
  • Hyphenation: dis‧cour‧age
  • Audio (US)(file)

Verb

discourage (third-person singular simple present discourages, present participle discouraging, simple past and past participle discouraged) (transitive)

  1. (transitive) To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.
    Don't be discouraged by the amount of work left to do: you'll finish it in good time.
  2. (transitive) To persuade somebody not to do (something).
    • 1854, Abraham Lincoln. Notes for a Law Lecture
      Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

discourage (uncountable)

  1. (rare) Lack of courage

Synonyms

Further reading
  • discourage in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
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