Discouraging

Discouraging describes something that causes a loss of confidence, enthusiasm, or hope; something that makes a person feel disheartened or deterred from pursuing a particular goal or activity. It can refer to events, situations, or even the words and actions of others that have a demotivating effect, leading to a feeling of wanting to give up or abandon the effort. It often involves the perception of difficulty, failure, or lack of progress. Furthermore, a Discouraging comment or criticism undermines someone's confidence. Discouraging circumstances are often overwhelming.

Discouraging meaning with examples

• The consistently poor results in the experiment were deeply Discouraging, making the researchers question their hypothesis and leading them to almost abandon the project entirely, because the data was not sufficient.
• The bleak job market outlook proved Discouraging for recent graduates. Many had spent significant time on education and training but were not able to acquire employment and so they became disheartened and despondent.
• Her Discouraging response to his proposal, filled with criticism and negativity, left him feeling dejected and made him second-guess his idea and his own abilities going forward, undermining his self confidence.
• The seemingly insurmountable challenges the team faced, like the high budget needed, the short timeframe, and lack of support, proved profoundly Discouraging and dampened the group's motivation to continue.
• Facing several Discouraging defeats in a row at the tournament, the player considered quitting, the psychological toll of losing so many games greatly reduced his enthusiasm for competing and his will to win.