EN

Synonyms for discouraging

  • adjective

Most common

frustrating disheartening demoralizing dispiriting disappointing depressing intimidating daunting

All synonyms

Adjective

disheartening, dispiriting, demoralizing, demoralising UK, frustrating, disappointing, depressing, daunting, intimidating, gloomy, dissuasive

Antonyms

encouraging, favorable, favourable

All antonyms of discouraging →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    That causes discouragement.

    Near-synonyms: disheartening; see also Thesaurus:disheartening

Example sentences

  • frustrating I won't be able to stay in such a frustrating job.
  • disheartening The recrudescence of his old complaint was disheartening.
  • demoralizing The air raid was demoralizing for the enemy.
  • dispiriting Watching modern news coverage is a rather dispiriting exercise.
  • disappointing It's truly disappointing to witness your behavior.
  • depressing Recently, you've been depressing to hang out with.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
discouragingfalling
frustratingrising
dishearteningsteady
demoralizingsteady
dispiritingrising
disappointingsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

6 letters
gloomy2
8 letters
daunting2
10 letters
depressing3, dissuasive
11 letters
frustrating3, dispiriting4
12 letters
intimidating5, demoralizing5, demoralising
13 letters
disappointing4, disheartening4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (gloomy2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
décourageant
Italiano
scoraggiante