to discourage

Definition of to discourage in English English dictionary: daunt; To persuade somebody not to do something
Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can (Abraham Lincoln ).; To take away or reduce the courage of; {v} to dishearten, deter, dissuade; try to prevent; show opposition to; "We should discourage this practice among our youth"; If someone or something discourages you, they cause you to lose your enthusiasm about your actions. It may be difficult to do at first. Don't let this discourage you. = dishearten encourage + discouraged dis·cour·aged She was determined not to be too discouraged. + discouraging dis·cour·ag·ing Today's report is rather more discouraging for the economy; Lack of courage; cowardliness; {f} cause to lose heart; deter, dissuade; show disapproval of; To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt; To discourage an action or to discourage someone from doing it means to make them not want to do it. typhoons that discouraged shopping and leisure activities. a campaign to discourage children from smoking. = deter encourage; To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts; deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged; admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior; "I warned him not to go too far"; "I warn you against false assumptions"; "She warned him to be quiet"