discouraged
Americanadjective
-
deprived of or lacking in courage, hope, or confidence.
The discouraged writer discarded the poem, but it was retrieved by a young soldier who sent it off for publication.
Another discouraged mother reported that she had no friends with whom to share childcare duties.
-
dissuaded or obstructed from doing something.
A third of the discouraged firms would probably have qualified for loans had they applied.
A discouraged worker is one who wants to work but is not looking for a job because of a perceived lack of demand.
-
disapproved of.
Climbing on the safety railing is a strongly discouraged activity.
We consider payday lenders to be a discouraged industry.
verb
Other Word Forms
- undiscouraged adjective
Etymology
Origin of discouraged
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I feel like I’m just stuck in shut-down and discouraged mode.
From MarketWatch
A silent half hour passed; Charles grew discouraged.
From Literature
I’m really trying to dig a way for independent people to strive for themselves, put forth the effort, and not be discouraged by anything.
From Los Angeles Times
My first go-around with the monkeys left me a little discouraged—but not too much.
From Literature
After her first junior national competitions at 9 years old discouraged her from dreaming of the Olympics, Glenn is now the oldest U.S. women’s singles skater to make the Olympic team since 1928.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
