discourage

To make someone less likely to do something by advising against it or making it difficult.

• The signs discourage smoking.
• Her parents discouraged her from leaving school.
• High parking fees discourage people from driving into town.

How to use it: discourage someone from doing something (The cost discouraged us from buying a car.); discourage doing something (The school discourages bringing phones to class.)

Similar words: deter, dissuade

Opposites: encourage

Common phrases: discourage someone from something, discourage smoking, discourage bad behavior

To make someone lose confidence, hope, or the desire to keep trying.

• His harsh words discouraged me.
• Do not let one mistake discourage you.
• Repeated failures had discouraged the whole team.

How to use it: be discouraged by something (She was discouraged by the poor results.)

Similar words: dishearten, demoralize

Opposites: encourage, hearten

Common phrases: discourage someone, discourage young people