dishearten

/dis'hɑ:tn/

Thân thiện

The news of the canceled trip disheartened the team.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause someone to lose hope, enthusiasm, or courage; to make someone feel discouraged or dispirited.

Usage

The verb "dishearten" describes the action of diminishing someone's spirit or morale. It is typically used in contexts where a person's confidence, optimism, or motivation is reduced by negative circumstances, news, or outcomes. It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (e.g., dishearten someone).

Examples

• The team's early loss did not dishearten them; they continued to play with great effort.
• Constant criticism can dishearten even the most dedicated employee.
• She was disheartened by the repeated rejections from publishers.
• The gloomy weather disheartened the hikers, making them consider turning back.

Advanced Usage

• "to be disheartened": This common passive construction describes the state of feeling discouraged.
  • He was deeply disheartened by the lack of progress.
• "disheartening" (adjective): Used to describe something that causes discouragement.
  • The disheartening news spread quickly through the community.

Variants and Related Words

• Dishearteningly (adverb): In a manner that causes discouragement.
  • The project progressed dishearteningly slowly.
• Disheartenment (noun): The state or feeling of being disheartened.
  • A sense of disheartenment settled over the group after the failed attempt.

Synonyms

• Discourage
• Dismay
• Dispirit
• Daunt
• Demoralize

Antonyms

• Encourage
• Heartened
• Inspire
• Motivate
• Buoy (up)

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "to lose heart": This idiom is a close conceptual synonym meaning to become discouraged.
  • Despite the setbacks, she refused to lose heart.
• "a disheartening sight/experience": A common collocation describing something visually or experientially discouraging.
  • The abandoned village was a disheartening sight.

Học thuật

Verb

1. take away the enthusiasm of

Từ đồng nghĩa

• put off