Discourage

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪsˈkʌɹɪdÊ’/, /dɪsˈkʊɹɪdÊ’/

Origin

From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. Surface analysis - + courage.

Full definition of discourage

Verb

1. (transitive) To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.Don't be discouraged by the amount of work left to do: you'll finish it in good time.
• Bible, Col. iii. 21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
2. (transitive) To persuade somebody not to do something.
• Abraham LincolnDiscourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.

Antonyms

• encourage