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What is another word for discourage?

Need synonyms for discourage? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Verb

To diminish the confidence or courage of

To persuade (someone) against an action

To (attempt to) prevent something from happening

To prevent, avoid, or keep (something undesirable) at bay

To hold or have a negative opinion of

To give force or effect toward

To become, or cause to become, bitter or disenchanted

The characteristic of being cowardly or lacking in courage

… more ▼

Verb

▲

To diminish the confidence or courage of

demoralise^UK

demoralize^US

appal^UK

appall^US

dampen the spirits of

break one's heart

put a damper on

cause to lose heart

dampen someone's hopes

take the wind out of your sails

terrorize^US

knock the stuffing out of

terrorise^UK

give someone the blues

bring tears to your eyes

hang over

dash hopes

dampen spirits

make one's heart bleed

paralyse^UK

paralyze^US

put someone off their stroke

make one's blood run cold

put into a funk

make one's hair stand on end

break someone's spirit

curdle the blood

break someone's heart

dampen someone's spirit

destabilize^US

scare the daylights out of

take the wind out

impress

cause someone to lose their composure

destabilise^UK

undermine one's confidence

knock the wind out of

dash the hopes of

desiccate

blind someone with something

shatter the illusions of

burst bubble

take your breath away

sap the confidence of

set back

aggravate

anger

pull the rug from under

put off one's stroke

pull the rug out from under

agonize^US

harsh someone's mellow

agonise^UK

make someone's heart bleed

let wind out of sails

puncture balloon

take the heart out of

lie heavy on

kick in the teeth

take down a peg or two

give someone the hump

make someone jump out of their skin

scare someone half to death

scare the bejesus out of

give someone goose pimples

throw into a fright

make one's flesh creep

give someone the heebie-jeebies

give one the creeps

freeze your blood

scare someone out of their wits

get the wind up

put the fear of God into

scare the living daylights out of

throw into a blue funk

fill with consternation

scandalize^US

scandalise^UK

set someone back on their heels

make someone scratch their head

stop someone in their tracks

traumatize^US

antagonize^US

traumatise^UK

antagonise^UK

hurt somebody's feelings

cause to be at a stand

make someone's hair stand on end

tantalize^US

tantalise^UK

put out of countenance

zing

get

benumb

put someone off their stride

distress greatly

knock for a loop

gross out

frighten someone out of their wits

send into a cold sweat

make someone's blood run cold

make someone shake in their shoes

frighten the life out of

scare the life out of

scare the hell out of

frighten the living daylights out of

throw into a panic

give offence to

mess with someone's head

balk^US

raise someone's eyebrows

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

baulk^UK

frighten out of your wits

scare the pants off of

weigh heavily on one's mind

tread on someone's toes

cause offense

be an affront to

be offensive

put someone's nose out of joint

get your goat

make jump

make afraid

chill someone's blood

make fearful

give someone a fright

make someone's hair curl

tyrannize^US

tyrannise^UK

more ❯

“As fewer people rode the Sunset Limited, the train's financial losses began to discourage the executives of the Southern Pacific Railroad.”

Verb

▲

To persuade (someone) against an action

“His father tried at first to discourage him from this occupation and to warn him that nothing was to be made of it.”

Verb

▲

To (attempt to) prevent something from happening

neutralize^US

neutralise^UK

put a spoke in someone's wheel

bring to a standstill

baulk^UK

balk^US

throw a spanner in the works

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

bring to screeching halt

tranquilize^US

ostracize^US

internalize^US

internalise^UK

cramp someone's style

ostracise^UK

throw monkey wrench in

immobilize^US

immobilise^UK

dissuade from

debilitate

bound

keep feeling inside oneself

prevent from making progress

queer someone's pitch

throw a spoke in the wheel of

put at a disadvantage

place at a disadvantage

not allow to go beyond

keep within the limits of

put out of commission

lay down the law to someone

make it impossible for

make it impracticable for

beat someone to the draw

beat someone to the punch

defend oneself against

take severe measures against

take stern measures against

get tough on

tighten up on

come down on like a ton of bricks

more ❯

“Governor Hutchinson, upon information given him, thought it prudent to discourage any further inquiry.”

Verb

▲

To prevent, avoid, or keep (something undesirable) at bay

defend oneself against

harbor^US

harbour^UK

more ❯

Verb

▲

To hold or have a negative opinion of

discountenance

disesteem

disfavour^UK

disfavor^US

have a low opinion of

indicate disapproval of

look down one's nose at

have no liking for

treat with contempt

be unable to tolerate

criticize^US

criticise^UK

express a poor opinion of

more ❯

Verb

▲

To give force or effect toward

Verb

▲

To become, or cause to become, bitter or disenchanted

Noun

▲

The characteristic of being cowardly or lacking in courage

butterflies in the stomach

more ❯

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Related Words and Phrases

What is another word for discourage?

Need synonyms for discourage? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Related Words and Phrases

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