Discourages

To discourage is to cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm; to dissuade someone from doing something, often by expressing disapproval or pointing out difficulties. It involves creating a feeling of negativity, doubt, or reluctance in another person, which hinders them from pursuing a course of action, belief, or feeling. This can manifest through words, actions, or circumstances that diminish someone's resolve or motivation. The impact ranges from mild disappointment to significant inhibition, depending on the intensity of the discouraging factor and the individual's resilience. Furthermore, discouraging behavior often involves conveying a sense of futility or a belief that an endeavor will fail, making it less likely for an individual to embark on that journey or persist through difficulties. A core component of discouraging is the erosion of one's faith in a cause or course of action.

Discourages meaning with examples

• The teacher, seeing the student's struggling efforts, accidentally discouraged them by constantly correcting their mistakes, rather than providing positive reinforcement. The student, feeling disheartened, lost their motivation to learn, impacting their engagement with the subject and making them dread class participation. It became harder to learn in this state.
• The government's new economic policies discouraged small businesses from expanding, as high taxes and stringent regulations made it difficult to succeed. Many entrepreneurs felt that their efforts were in vain and that the economic system was designed to impede them, and they felt discouraged by the government's lack of care. Some even shut down.
• Her friends tried to discourage her from pursuing a career as a musician, warning her of the fierce competition and financial instability. They pointed out the potential setbacks she might face, leading to anxiety about the potential difficulties, which made it difficult to believe in success, causing her to contemplate a different path.
• The rainy weather discouraged many people from attending the outdoor festival, resulting in a smaller turnout and disappointed organizers. The unfavorable conditions dampened their spirits, which made it hard for people to have any optimism toward the event, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction about the activities.