Standard Lemma guide

discouraging

adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪsˈkʌɹ.ɪ.d͡ʒɪŋ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /dɪsˈkɝ.ɪ.d͡ʒɪŋ/
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S K ER1 AH0 JH IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: D IH0 S K ER1 IH0 JH IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That causes discouragement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: disheartening; see also Thesaurus:disheartening

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: disheartening, crushing, demotivating, daunting, demoralizing, disappointing, discouraging, dispiriting, bleak, gutting

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

discouragement

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • August 6, 1841, Lydia Ann Barclay, letter to J. B. But, alas! I fear the health of the better part is dwindling instead of increasing, through letting in the enemy's discouragings, and a want of feeling after the daily sap of life, whereby strength would be received to overcome all obstacles [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of discourage

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

depriving of confidence or hope or enthusiasm and hence often deterring action

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • where never is heard a discouraging word

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: encouraging

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

expressing disapproval

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مُحْبِط (muḥbiṭ) — that causes discouragement
  • Arabic: مُثَبِّط (muṯabbiṭ) — that causes discouragement
  • Catalan: descoratjador — that causes discouragement
  • Dutch: ontmoedigend — that causes discouragement
  • Finnish: lannistava — that causes discouragement
  • French: décourageant — that causes discouragement
  • French: démotivant — that causes discouragement
  • Greek: αποθαρρυντικός (apotharryntikós) — that causes discouragement
  • Ancient Greek: ταπεινωτικός (tapeinōtikós) — that causes discouragement
  • Italian: scoraggiante — that causes discouragement
  • Polish: antybodźcowy — that causes discouragement
  • Polish: przeciwbodźcowy — that causes discouragement
  • Polish: zniechęcający — that causes discouragement
  • Portuguese: desencorajador — that causes discouragement
  • Spanish: desalentador — that causes discouragement
  • Spanish: descorazonador — that causes discouragement