To discourage someone is to deter or dissuade them from doing something, often by expressing doubt or disapproval. It involves making someone feel less motivated, less confident, or less inclined to pursue a particular action or goal. Discouragement can come from external influences such as advice, criticism, or negative feedback, or it can stem from internal factors like fear or uncertainty. The purpose of discouraging someone is often to prevent them from taking an action that may be deemed unwise, risky, or harmful. In Indonesian, discourage can be translated as “membuat putus asa” or “mencegah.”
Some synonyms for discourage include: deter, dissuade, dishearten, demotivate, disappoint, undermine, unsettle, dampen, depress, and put off.
Example Sentences Using Discourage:
- His parents tried to discourage him from pursuing a career in acting, suggesting it was too unstable.
- The harsh weather conditions did not discourage the hikers from reaching the summit.
- She was discouraged by her early failures, but eventually found the strength to keep going.
- The long delays in processing the application seemed to discourage many potential applicants.
- The coach’s negative comments discouraged the players from putting in their best effort during practice.
- He was discouraged by the lack of progress on his project and considered giving up.
- The failure of the first few attempts didn’t discourage him from continuing to try.
- Their rude remarks were meant to discourage her from speaking up in the meeting.
- The steep learning curve may discourage some people from taking up a new skill.
- The constant rejections discouraged her, but she eventually landed the job of her dreams.
Related Words:
- Deter
- Dissuade
- Dishearten
- Demotivate
- Undermine
- Disappoint
- Unsettle
- Dampen
- Depress
- Put off
Phrasal Verbs Related to Discourage:
- Talk out of (to convince someone not to do something, often with the intention of discouraging them)
- Talk down (to speak in a way that makes someone feel less confident or discouraged)
- Shut down (to stop or discourage an idea, argument, or initiative from progressing)
- Back out of (to withdraw from a commitment, often due to being discouraged by external factors)
- Give up on (to stop supporting or believing in something or someone, often after feeling discouraged)
Idiomatic Expressions Related to Discourage:
- Throw in the towel (to give up on something after being discouraged or feeling defeated)
- Take the wind out of one’s sails (to discourage or deflate someone’s enthusiasm or confidence)
- Burst one’s bubble (to discourage someone by revealing an unpleasant truth or disappointment)
- Lead someone down the garden path (to mislead or deceive someone, often discouraging them from the truth)
- Rain on someone’s parade (to discourage someone by ruining their plans or expectations)
When you discourage someone, you are influencing them in a way that reduces their drive, enthusiasm, or confidence in a particular course of action. While sometimes discouragement can be constructive, like when it comes from a place of concern for someone’s well-being, it can also have negative effects, leading to feelings of inadequacy or hopelessness. The word is often used in contexts where people are attempting to change someone’s mind or prevent them from pursuing something risky or unwise.
