discourage
nounEtymology From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. By surface analysis, dis- + courage.
1
Rare Lack of courage
- Synonyms
- cowardliness
discourage
verbUK /dɪsˈkʌɹɪd͡ʒ/ · US /dɪsˈkɝɪd͡ʒ/
Etymology From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. By surface analysis, dis- + courage.
1
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.
- Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 3:21:
2
To persuade somebody not to do (something).
- Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.1854, Abraham Lincoln., Notes for a Law Lecture:
- Antonyms
- encourage
- Derived terms
- discourageable, discouragement, discourager, overdiscourage