disheartening 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dishearteningnext
as in discouraging

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disheartening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dishearten
as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of we were disheartened by the news that our grandmother was seriously ill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheartening
  1. discouraging
  2. dismaying
  3. daunting
  4. troubling
  5. troublesome
  6. upsetting
  7. disturbing
  8. worrisome
Verb
  • Indoor humidity levels are low in winter, and a room humidifier can help plants avoid stress while discouraging pests like spider mites.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The administration's actions are seen as expanding federal control and discouraging state innovation in healthcare programs.
    Steve Brozak, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of discouraging
Adjective
  • Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.
    F.K. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.
    Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024
Definition of dismaying
Adjective
  • Making a barista-worthy espresso is tough enough, but adding the right amount of milk and foam, perfectly heated and combined, is surprisingly daunting.
    Jaina Grey, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025
  • For parents of young children, life here can be especially daunting.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of daunting
Adjective
  • Naval News' reporting paints a troubling image of China's new potential capabilities of bypassing Taipei's defenses and landing in Taiwan with heavy military equipment.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
  • While the possible deployment of a cell-site simulator at the DNC has raised more questions than answers, for privacy and civil liberties advocates, the implications are troubling nonetheless.
    Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • And if that wasn’t troublesome enough, the offensive line would have had protection issues if Tagovailoa didn’t have such a quick trigger.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
  • People often let their guard down in the cold months, which scientists say can be troublesome as fleas have different life stages.
    Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of troublesome
Adjective
  • Just as upsetting is the E.D. itself (short for Emergency Department, since they’re not called E.Rs.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025
  • In its place is now Palm Tree Club, an upscale hotel, dining and event space that's already upsetting its new neighbors.
    Sommer Brugal, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of upsetting
Adjective
  • While the Eagles triumphed 22-10, advancing to the NFC Divisional Round, the victory was overshadowed by the disturbing exchange in the stands.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
  • The disturbing new figures are inching close to the same number of people — 1.5 million— who were internally displaced by Haiti’s cataclysmic earthquake, which struck 15 years ago on Jan. 12, 2010.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Nazar has a smaller sample size with just 62 faceoffs in 11 games, but his 33.9 percentage is still worrisome.
    Scott Powers, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The Dolphins’ injury outlook remained worrisome Thursday, with left tackle Terron Armstead again missing practice with a knee injury and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa again sitting out at least parts of practice because of a hip injury.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of worrisome
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near disheartening

disheartened

disheartening

disheartenment

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Cite this Entry

“Disheartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheartening. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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