discouraged

Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Idioms.

dis·cour·age

(dĭ-skûr′ĭj, -skŭr′-)

tr.v. dis·cour·aged, dis·cour·ag·ing, dis·cour·ag·es

1. To deprive of confidence, hope, or spirit: Making so little progress after so much effort discouraged us.

2. To dissuade or deter (someone) from doing something: My adviser discouraged me from applying to big universities.

3. To try to prevent by expressing disapproval or raising objections: The agency discouraged all travel to the areas hardest hit by the disease.

[Middle English discoragen, from Old French descoragier : des-, dis- + corage, courage; see courage.]

dis·cour′age·a·ble adj.

dis·cour′ag·er n.

dis·cour′ag·ing·ly adv.

Synonyms: discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit
These verbs mean to make less hopeful or enthusiastic: researchers who were discouraged by the problem's magnitude; apathy that disheartened the instructor; did not let the technical difficulties dismay them; a failure that dispirited the team.

Antonym: encourage

discouraged

(dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒd)

adj

having had one's confidence and determination reduced

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.	1.	discouraged - made less hopeful or enthusiastic; "desperate demoralized people looking for work"; "felt discouraged by the magnitude of the problem"; "the disheartened instructor tried vainly to arouse their interest" demoralised, demoralized, disheartened pessimistic - expecting the worst possible outcome
	2.	discouraged - lacking in resolution; "the accident left others discouraged about going there" irresolute - uncertain how to act or proceed; "the committee was timid and mediocre and irresolute"

discouraged

adjective put off, deterred, daunted, dashed, dismayed, pessimistic, dispirited, downcast, disheartened, crestfallen, sick as a parrot (informal) She was determined not to be too discouraged by his criticism.

Translations

discouraged

[dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒd] adj (= disheartened) → découragé(e)
Don't be discouraged
BUT Ne te décourage pas.
to get discouraged → se décourager
Don't get discouraged! → Ne te décourage pas!

discouraged

a. desanimado-a, desalentado-a.

discouraged

adj desalentado, desanimado; to get — desalentarse, desanimarse

References in classic literature ?

Then, sitting in Beth's little chair close beside him, Jo told her troubles, the resentful sorrow for her loss, the fruitless efforts that discouraged her, the want of faith that made life look so dark, and all the sad bewilderment which we call despair.

View in context

He was fat and lazy and discouraged, and bad luck had become a habit with him.

View in context

Discouraged by an assault from a quarter that left them no opportunity for cover, the warriors uttered a common yell of disappointment, and breaking off in a body, they spread themselves across the opening, heedless of every consideration but flight.

View in context

Though we defended ourselves, and repulsed the enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our cattle, brought us into extreme difficulty, and so discouraged the whole company, that we retreated forty miles, to the settlement on Clench river.

View in context

Therefore, the Italian boy would not be discouraged by the heavy silence with which the old house seemed resolute to clog the vivacity of his instrument.

View in context

Then after long search into the minister's dim interior, and turning over many precious materials, in the shape of high aspirations for the welfare of his race, warm love of souls, pure sentiments, natural piety, strengthened by thought and study, and illuminated by revelation -- all of which invaluable gold was perhaps no better than rubbish to the seeker -- he would turn back, discouraged, and begin his quest towards another point.

View in context

I had perpetually to guard against the wonder of contemplation into which my initiated view betrayed me; to check the irrelevant gaze and discouraged sigh in which I constantly both attacked and renounced the enigma of what such a little gentleman could have done that deserved a penalty.

View in context

Is she discouraged, does she drag herself about the house and find fault with everything?

View in context

I'm going to be a first-rater; and don't you be discouraged.

View in context

Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the in- significant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged.

View in context

At last Hal he looked beat and discouraged, and said we'd got to give it up.

View in context

Much more surprising things can happen to any one who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one.