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

Keep at bay

To give force or effect toward

To hold or have a negative opinion of

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

knock the stuffing out of

terrorize^US

give someone the blues

terrorise^UK

bring tears to your eyes

sour

dash hopes

dampen spirits

make one's heart bleed

paralyse^UK

paralyze^US

put someone off their stroke

make one's blood run cold

make one's hair stand on end

scare away

break someone's spirit

curdle the blood

scare off

break someone's heart

dampen someone's spirit

destabilize^US

destabilise^UK

undermine one's confidence

blind someone with something

take your breath away

shatter the illusions of

burst bubble

take the heart out of

sap the confidence of

pull the rug out from under

pull the rug from under

deaden

fill with fear

scare the bejesus out of

freeze your blood

miff

wound

agonize^US

make someone jump out of their skin

give someone goose pimples

make one's flesh creep

give one the creeps

scare someone out of their wits

get the wind up

put the fear of God into

chill to the marrow

scare the pants off

scare someone half to death

throw into a fright

give someone the heebie-jeebies

throw into a panic

scare the living daylights out of

throw into a blue funk

agonise^UK

scare the daylights out of

envenom

wind up

surprise

cause someone to lose their composure

antagonize^US

harsh someone's mellow

knock the wind out of

pother

give someone the hump

bear down

make someone's heart bleed

let wind out of sails

puncture balloon

take down

kick in the teeth

take down a peg or two

fill with consternation

antagonise^UK

scandalize^US

scandalise^UK

stop someone in their tracks

make someone scratch their head

set someone back on their heels

make someone's hair stand on end

balk^US

traumatize^US

traumatise^UK

hurt somebody's feelings

cause to be at a stand

baulk^UK

tyrannize^US

tantalize^US

tantalise^UK

tyrannise^UK

put out of countenance

benumb

boggle the mind

cause anxiety to

put someone off their stride

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

push buttons

put your back up

mess with someone's head

knock for a loop

blow your mind

fill with terror

frighten out of your wits

raise someone's eyebrows

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

scare the pants off of

victimize^US

weigh heavily on one's mind

make things hot for someone

inspire panic in

strike terror in

make it hot for someone

victimise^UK

put the frighteners on

chill someone's blood

make fearful

give someone a fright

make someone's hair curl

tread on someone's toes

cause offense

be an affront to

be offensive

put someone's nose out of joint

make a big thing out of

make a big thing of

make a meal of

make a mountain out of a molehill

dishonor^US

raise eyebrows amongst

cause raised eyebrows

lampoon

detract

put one away

cause a few raised eyebrows amongst

dishonour^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

disfavour^UK

disfavor^US

change somebody's mind

thwart one's attempts

baulk^UK

act like a wet blanket

balk^US

more ❯

“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

put a spoke in someone's wheel

neutralise^UK

bring to a standstill

baulk^UK

balk^US

throw a spanner in the works of

tranquilize^US

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

minimize^US

minimise^UK

bring to screeching halt

jail^US

gaol^UK

cauterize^US

ostracize^US

immobilize^US

immobilise^UK

cauterise^UK

ostracise^UK

cramp someone's style

paralyze^US

paralyse^UK

anesthetize^US

keep feeling inside oneself

internalize^US

internalise^UK

prevent from making progress

fulfil^UK

not allow to go beyond

keep within the limits of

throw monkey wrench in

throw a spanner in the works

throw a spoke in the wheel of

put at a disadvantage

lay down the law to someone

beat down

bring to naught

put out of commission

place at a disadvantage

have on a tight leash

fulfill^US

make it impossible for

make impossible

make it impracticable for

act like a wet blanket

economize^US

economise^UK

mould^UK

pulverize^US

vaporize^US

mold^US

wipe off the face of the earth

vaporise^UK

pulverise^UK

resist the temptation to

avoid doing something

be temperate

pass up

not touch

have nothing to do with

take severe measures against

take stern measures against

tighten up on

get tough

get tough on

come down on like a ton of bricks

criminalize^US

criminalise^UK

defend oneself against

dishonor^US

give the red light to

give the thumbs down to

dishonour^UK

put someone in their place

put in one's place

take down a peg or two

more ❯

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

Verb

Keep at bay

give someone the go-by

give the cold shoulder

look right through someone

cross

tell someone where to get off

put in one's place

freeze out

reprove

give someone the brush-off

ostracize^US

ostracise^UK

treat disrespectfully

turn up one's nose at

look straight through

give the cold shoulder to

give the thumbs down to

not take advantage of

give cold shoulder to

be contemptuous about

give the Bronx cheer to

give someone a slap in the face

dishonor^US

dishonour^UK

have no more truck with

wash your hands of

be against

break with

have nothing more to do with

fly in the face of

opt out

refuse to take advantage of

look down one's nose at

opt out of

give the thumbs down

give the red light

more ❯

Verb

▲

To give force or effect toward

Verb

▲

To hold or have a negative opinion of

disfavour^UK

disfavor^US

find unacceptable

indicate disapproval of

have a low opinion of

criticize^US

criticise^UK

express a poor opinion of

more ❯

Noun

▲

The characteristic of being cowardly or lacking in courage

butterflies in the stomach

more ❯

“He added that fares will be clearly posted on each vehicle in order to prevent confusion and discourage mischievous behavior of drivers.”

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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.

Related Words and Phrases

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