discourage
/dis'kʌridʤ/
Definition
- Verb:
- To cause someone to lose confidence, enthusiasm, or hope: To make someone feel less confident or less willing to do something.
- To advise or persuade someone against a course of action: To try to prevent something by showing disapproval or by arguing against it.
Usage
- The primary meaning is to make someone feel less hopeful or less confident about doing something.
- It is often used with the preposition 'from' when indicating the action being dissuaded (e.g., discourage someone doing something).
- It can describe an action that actively prevents or deters something.
Examples
- Verb:
- Constant criticism can discourage even the most motivated students.
- The high cost is meant to discourage unnecessary consumption.
- I tried to discourage him from quitting his job without another offer.
- The bad weather discouraged us from going on the hike.
Advanced Usage
- "to be discouraged": This passive/adjectival form describes the state of having lost confidence or hope.
- She felt discouraged by the lack of progress.
- Used in formal or official contexts to describe policies or measures intended to prevent certain behaviors.
- The new law aims to discourage illegal dumping.
Variants and Related Words
- Discouragement (n): The act of discouraging or the state of being discouraged; something that discourages.
- He persevered despite many discouragements.
- Discouraging (adj): Causing someone to lose confidence or hope; disheartening.
- The results of the test were discouraging.
Synonyms
- Dishearten: To cause someone to lose determination or confidence.
- Deter: To discourage someone from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
- Dissuade: To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.
Antonyms
- Encourage: To give support, confidence, or hope to someone.
- Inspire: To fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something.
Related Phrases
- Discourage from: This is the standard construction for advising against an action.
- Her parents discouraged her from moving abroad.
Verb
-
admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
-
I warned him not to go too far
-
I warn you against false assumptions
-
She warned him to be quiet
-
-
deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged
-
try to prevent; show opposition to
-
We should discourage this practice among our youth
-
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