1. Depriving of confidence, hope or enthusiasm and hence often deterring action
   "where never is heard a discouraging word"
    
2. Expressing disapproval in order to dissuade
   "His discouraging remarks about her career choice made her reconsider her plans"

1. Try to prevent; show opposition to
   "We should discourage this practice among our youth";
   - deter
    
2. Deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged
   "The constant rejections discouraged her";
   - frustrate
    
3. Advise or counsel in terms of someone's behaviour
   "The teacher discouraged the students from cheating";
   - warn, admonish

See also: daunting, demoralising [Brit], demoralizing, disheartening, dispiriting, dissuasive, frustrating, hopeless, intimidating, unencouraging, unhelpful

Type of: advise, alter, change, counsel, disapprove, modify, rede [archaic], reject

Antonym: encourage, encouraging

Encyclopedia: Discourage