Noun: discouragement dis'kur-ij-munt or dis'kú-rij-munt [N. Amer], dis'kú-rij-munt [Brit]
- The feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
"The team's discouragement was palpable after their third consecutive loss";
- disheartenment, dismay
- The expression of opposition and disapproval
"His parents' discouragement of his artistic pursuits only strengthened his resolve"
- The act of discouraging
"the discouragement of petty theft"
- Something that acts to discourage certain behaviour or action
"The high fines serve as a discouragement to illegal parking";
- deterrent
Derived forms: discouragements
Type of: despair, deterrence, disapproval
Antonym: encouragement
Encyclopedia: Discouragement