# discouraging

/dɪˈskɝədʒɪŋ/ (US) · /dɪskˈʌɹɪdʒɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discouraging
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

making you feel less confident or less hopeful about something. It describes a situation that makes you want to stop trying.

For teachers: causing a loss of confidence, enthusiasm, or spirit. Often used to describe feedback, results, or environmental factors that impede motivation.

## Examples

- The low test scores were very discouraging for the students.
- Despite the discouraging news about the budget cuts, the team decided to continue their research.
- The initial lack of public interest was discouraging, yet the artist persisted until her work finally gained the recognition it deserved from the local community.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I feel discouraging about my progress." but "I feel discouraged about my progress." — Use 'discouraging' for the thing that causes the feeling and 'discouraged' for the person experiencing the feeling.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'feel'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.