discouraged

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "discouraged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when wanting to express sadness or disappointment due to failure or difficulty. For example: "The student was discouraged after receiving a low score on their test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Before you self-prescribe anything, you should know that even doctors are strongly discouraged from doing so by the General Medical Council, on the grounds that an objective person should make a better prescribing decision.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

McPhearson said he was not discouraged by the slow and piecemeal progress, legislatively or otherwise, that's been made in the years since Martin's death.

The Guardian

Such books are not often produced today, because, as Mr Toynbee shows in his witty comparison of historical and industrial production, they are discouraged by the turn that the writing of history has taken.

The Guardian - Books

But until recently, the FBI discouraged challenges to its numbers, insisting that they were carefully audited – and pointing out that the bureau, in any case, was required by law to publish them.

The Guardian

The austerity consensus among major parties and a sense of disenfranchisement by a political class that seems remote from real life have discouraged young and minority voters in particular, Guardian and Observer reporting has found.

The Guardian

Just because he now finds himself in a staggeringly tough World Cup group, he should not be discouraged from still pursuing that flexibility.

The Guardian - Sport

The Impact ran into the scoring form of Will Bruin last week, though won't have been entirely discouraged by the part they played in an end-to-end game.

The Guardian - Sport

This hasn't discouraged Iona and their fellow no campaigners from attempting to emotively and dishonestly reframe the discussion, however.

The Guardian

She was further discouraged by founder-member Huey Newton's status within the party.

The Guardian - Books

Commentators have argued that charities need to tread carefully when approaching the public, but should not be discouraged from taking advantage of legacy giving.

The Guardian

But Clinton's juggernaut of a campaign, which has discouraged other serious contenders from entering the race, is set to rob Democrats in the state of their chance to shape the nation's presidential cycle.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "discouraged", clearly state what caused the feeling of discouragement to provide context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "discouraged" when a stronger word like "devastated" or "defeated" more accurately reflects the intensity of the emotion. Choose the word that best conveys the true feeling.

Linguistic Context

The word "discouraged" functions primarily as an adjective describing a state of feeling a loss of confidence or enthusiasm. It can also function as the past participle of the verb 'discourage,' indicating an action taken to dissuade someone. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "discouraged" is a versatile term primarily used as an adjective to describe a state of diminished confidence or enthusiasm. Ludwig highlights its correct grammatical standing. It is commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, indicating its broad applicability. Semantically related alternatives include "disheartened", "dispirited", and "dejected", each offering slightly different nuances. To use "discouraged" effectively, provide context about the cause of the feeling and consider stronger synonyms if the emotion is more intense. Common mistakes can be avoided by selecting the term that best fits the specific emotional state and context. Ludwig’s numerous examples reinforce its correct and varied uses, making it a valuable addition to anyone's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disheartened

Shares a similar meaning of losing hope or enthusiasm.

dispirited

Emphasizes a loss of morale or vitality.

dejected

Implies a feeling of sadness or low spirits.

dissuaded

Highlights being persuaded against doing something.

deterred

Focuses on being prevented from acting due to fear or obstacles.

daunted

Indicates feeling intimidated or overwhelmed by a challenge.

disinclined

Shows a lack of willingness or motivation.

unenthusiastic

Reveals a lack of excitement or interest.

demotivated

Stresses a loss of motivation or drive.

disappointed

Expresses sadness or regret due to unmet expectations.

FAQs

How to use "discouraged" in a sentence?

You can use "discouraged" to describe someone who has lost confidence or enthusiasm, such as, "The team was "discouraged" after losing the game."

What can I say instead of "discouraged"?

You can use alternatives like "disheartened", "dispirited", or "dejected" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "discouraged by" or "discouraged from"?

"Discouraged by" is used to indicate the cause of discouragement (e.g., "He was "discouraged by" the negative feedback"), while "discouraged from" means prevented or dissuaded from doing something (e.g., "They were "discouraged from" pursuing their dreams").

What's the difference between "discouraged" and "disappointed"?

"Discouraged" implies a loss of confidence or enthusiasm, often due to obstacles or setbacks. "Disappointed" expresses sadness or regret that something didn't happen as expected. You might be "disappointed" that you didn't get a promotion, and then become "discouraged" about your career prospects.