as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
we were disheartened by the news that our grandmother was seriously ill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
our excusable disheartenment in the face of overwhelming odds against winning the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dishearten
Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Arsenal go into the break disappointed, but not disheartened.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Add a breast cancer diagnosis—with its potential surgeries, scars and treatment side effects—and the pressure to conform to outdated beauty standards can feel disheartening.
—Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
Anta, the son of Cuban and Colombian immigrants, says he's disheartened by the images.
—NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dishearten
Verb
As for the media coverage surrounding his death, the false narratives are disheartening and disrespectful to the legacy of a wonderful man.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishearten
Verb
-
Despite being one of the top defenses all season, the last month has been discouraging.—
-
This design helps prevent condensation buildup and discourages rodents and pests, while still reducing the risk of damage from falling debris during winter storms.—
Noun
-
Monday’s loss to the Celtics highlighted the despair in the state of the current Bulls frontcourt.—
-
But Wharton, unlike the characters in her novels, never seemed to give in to despair.—
Verb
-
Games that are too easy bore older players, while overly complex games can frustrate younger ones.—
-
But while Coogan racked up millions of views for his YouTube explainers about political figures like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, he was frustrated by the hours of prep work that went into producing a single episode.—
Noun
-
There is bafflement alongside the dismay.—
-
My seven-year-old, the daredevil of the family, was just an inch or so off the height requirements for zip lining high above the Central Park neighborhood and the FlowRider surf simulator, much to her dismay.—
Cite this Entry
“Dishearten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishearten. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share