discourage

Formsdiscourages, discouraging, discouraged

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To persuade someone against doing something.

   The coach discouraged his players from arguing with referees.

   Heavy fines discourage drivers from speeding through school zones.

   Similardissuade, deter, prevent

   Oppositeencourage, persuade, urge, induce

   Note

   Here the pressure falls on a course of action rather than on morale. Two constructions carry it. One is discourage someone from doing something. The other, more brisk, makes the action itself the object, as in Abraham Lincoln's Notes for a Law Lecture (1854): "Discourage litigation." That second pattern suits advice and policy, where no particular person is named. Lincoln follows it with persuade, the verb whose opposite this sense is.

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To take away someone's courage or confidence; to dishearten.

   Setbacks like these can discourage even experienced climbers.

   The defeat discouraged her so deeply that she nearly gave up.

   Similardishearten, demoralize, dispirit, daunt, deflate

   Oppositeencourage, hearten, embolden, inspire

   Note

   Here the word means what its parts say: Old French des- joined to corage, courage taken away. The King James Bible of 1611 warns fathers not to provoke their children "lest they be discouraged." It often appears in the passive with by: discouraged by setbacks, by the work left to do. What is discouraged here is a person's spirit; in the dissuading meaning, it is an action.

3. 3
   nounrareuncountable

   A lack of courage or bravery.

   A wave of discourage swept the soldiers as the walls began to fall.

   Despite his discourage, he forced himself to step onto the bridge.

   Similarfear, dismay, cowardice, timidity

   Oppositecourage, bravery, valor, boldness

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