dis
cou
rage
Third Person
discourages
Present Participle
discouraging
Past Tense
discouraged
Past Participle
discouraged
1
to officially forbid someone from doing a specific activity, usually to prevent it from happening
transitive
- The school discouraged the use of cell phones by implementing a ban on mobile devices during class hours to maintain a focused learning environment.
- The teacher discouraged cheating by implementing strict consequences.
- The government enacted regulations to discourage the consumption of sugary drinks in public schools.
- The transit authority installed turnstiles to discourage fare evasion and ensure fair payment for public transportation services.
2
to cause someone to lose enthusiasm, hope, or confidence, often by expressing negativity or criticism
transitive
- The constant failures began to discourage her, and she started to doubt her abilities.
- The constant criticism from his parents discouraged the aspiring musician.
- The failure of his first business venture discouraged young entrepreneur.
- The rejection letters from publishers discouraged him and he finally gave up writing.
Antonyms:
3
to prevent or persuade someone from taking a particular action or pursuing a specific course of action
- I tried to discourage him from quitting his job by highlighting the potential risks and uncertainties.
- The new policy will discourage employees from using company resources for personal matters.
- The coach discourages players from engaging in unsportsmanlike behavior.
- The negative feedback from critics did not discourage her from pursuing her passion for painting.
- The mentor's encouragement and support helped discourage the mentee from giving up on their career aspirations.
Synonyms: