Discourage

Definition

Discourage refers to the act of causing someone to lose confidence, enthusiasm, or motivation. It can also mean to prevent or try to prevent something from happening by dissuading someone from doing it.

Parts of Speech

• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /dɪˈskɜːrɪdʒ/
• Respelling: dih-SKUR-ij

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ/
• Respelling: dis-KUR-ij

The pronunciation of "discourage" differs slightly between American and British English, particularly in the second syllable.

Etymology

The word "discourage" comes from the Old French word "descoragier," meaning "to deprive of courage." The prefix "dis-" implies a reversal or negation, while "coragier" comes from "corage," meaning "heart" or "courage." The term entered the English language in the late 14th century and has retained its meaning of reducing someone's confidence or enthusiasm.

Derivatives

• Discouragement (noun)
• Discouraging (adjective)
• Discouragingly (adverb)
• Undiscouraged (adjective)
• Discourager (noun)

Synonyms

• Dissuade
• Demoralize
• Dishearten

Antonyms

• Encourage
• Inspire
• Motivate

Usage

The word "discourage" is commonly used to describe actions or words that reduce someone's confidence or enthusiasm for an activity, idea, or task. It can also refer to preventing certain actions by making them seem undesirable. For example: "The teacher's harsh criticism discouraged him from pursuing a career in writing," or "High taxes were introduced to discourage the use of tobacco products."

Related Terms

• Dissuasion: The act of persuading someone not to take a particular course of action.
• Demotivation: The act of reducing someone's motivation or enthusiasm for a task or goal.
• Opposition: Resistance or disapproval towards an idea or plan.

Detailed Definitions

Verb

• To cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm: Refers to the act of making someone feel less motivated or confident about continuing with a task or goal.
  • Example: "The lack of progress on the project discouraged the team."
• To prevent something by dissuading someone from doing it: Refers to efforts made to stop or reduce the likelihood of an action by making it seem unappealing or unwise.
  • Example: "The government introduced new laws to discourage excessive drinking."