Discourage - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Discourage means to persuade someone not to do something by reducing their confidence or enthusiasm. It can also refer to making a task or situation seem less appealing or more difficult.
Definition:
To dissuade or deter someone from doing something by reducing their confidence or enthusiasm.
Synonyms:
deter, dissuade, demoralize, dishearten
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
encourage, inspire, motivate
Common Collocations:
discourage bad behavior, discourage participation, discourage effort, discourage negativity
Derivatives:
discouragement, discouraging, discouraged
Usage Tips:
Use "discourage" when describing actions that reduce someone's motivation or confidence in pursuing a goal.
Common Phrases:
don't get discouraged, discourage from doing something, strongly discourage
Etymology:
From Old French "descouragier," combining "des-" (reverse) and "corage" (courage).
Examples:
- 1. The teacher tried to discourage cheating during the exam.
- 2. His harsh words only served to discourage her further.
- 3. Parents should not discourage children from exploring new hobbies.
- 4. The rainy weather might discourage people from attending the event.