discourage

discourage
discourager, n.discourageable, adj.discouragingly, adv.
/di skerr"ij, -skur"-/, v., discouraged, discouraging.
v.t.
1. to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit.
2. to dissuade (usually fol. by from).
3. to obstruct by opposition or difficulty; hinder: Low prices discourage industry.
4. to express or make clear disapproval of; frown upon: to discourage the expression of enthusiasm.
v.i.
5. to become discouraged: a person who discourages easily.
[1400-50; late ME discoragen < MF descorager, OF descoragier. See DIS-1, COURAGE]
Syn. 1. daunt, depress, deject, overawe, cow, abash. DISCOURAGE, DISMAY, INTIMIDATE mean to dishearten or frighten. To DISCOURAGE is to dishearten by expressing disapproval or by suggesting that a contemplated action or course will probably fail: He was discouraged from going into business. To DISMAY is to dishearten completely: Her husband's philandering dismayed her. To INTIMIDATE is to frighten, as by threats of force, violence, or dire consequences: to intimidate a witness.
Ant. 1. encourage.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • discourage — ► VERB 1) cause a loss of confidence or enthusiasm in. 2) prevent or try to prevent by showing disapproval or creating difficulties. 3) (discourage from) persuade (someone) against (an action). DERIVATIVES discouragement noun discouraging… …   English terms dictionary

  • Discourage — Dis*cour age, n. Lack of courage; cowardliness. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • discourage — [di skʉr′ij] vt. discouraged, discouraging [ME discoragen < OFr descoragier: see DIS & COURAGE] 1. to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten 2. to advise or persuade (a person) to refrain 3. to prevent or try to prevent by… …   English World dictionary

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  • discourage */ — UK [dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ] / US verb [transitive] Word forms discourage : present tense I/you/we/they discourage he/she/it discourages present participle discouraging past tense discouraged past participle discouraged 1) to try to prevent something from… …   English dictionary

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