Discourage vs. Disheartening — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 25, 2024
"Discourage" refers to actions intended to dissuade someone from doing something, whereas "disheartening" describes the emotional effect of being demotivated or losing enthusiasm.
Difference Between Discourage and Disheartening
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
To discourage is to actively advise or persuade someone against a particular course of action, while something that is disheartening may cause a person to feel a loss of spirit or enthusiasm without any direct discouragement.
Discouragement often involves communication aimed at changing someone's intentions or behaviors, while disheartening results from experiences or realizations that deflate one’s morale or hope.
The process of discouraging is usually intentional and directed, involving interactions such as warnings or advice, whereas disheartening can occur as an unintended consequence of various situations or news.
While discourage focuses on the act of deterring actions or decisions, disheartening concerns the emotional impact—feeling dispirited or discouraged as a result of external factors.
Discouraging actions might be motivated by concern or realism, aiming to protect someone from negative outcomes, whereas something that is disheartening might simply reflect the harsh realities or disappointing aspects of a situation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To persuade someone not to do something
To cause someone to lose determination
Focus
On actions and intentions
On emotions and feelings
Intentionality
Typically intentional
Often unintentional
Method
Through advice, warnings, or discouragement
Through events, outcomes, or revelations
Result
Prevention of an action
Emotional impact, loss of spirit
Compare with Definitions
Discourage
Intentional effort to prevent an action.
Signs discourage feeding wildlife in the park.
Disheartening
To cause someone to lose heart or motivation.
The news of the layoffs was disheartening.
Discourage
To advise against a course of action.
She discouraged him from buying the expensive car.
Disheartening
Results in a decrease in enthusiasm or hope.
The continued rain was disheartening for the farmers.
Discourage
To attempt to deter someone by persuasion or advice.
His coach discouraged him from quitting the team.
Disheartening
Can occur from experiencing setbacks or disappointments.
The team found the loss disheartening.
Discourage
To dissuade someone through negative feedback.
The harsh criticism discouraged her from writing.
Disheartening
Relating to an emotional downturn due to external factors.
The failure of the project was disheartening.
Discourage
Often related to protective or preventive motives.
They discourage swimming when the water levels are high.
Disheartening
Often a reaction to negative or unexpected situations.
The lack of support was disheartening.
Discourage
To deprive of confidence, hope, or spirit
Making so little progress after so much effort discouraged us.
Disheartening
Causing someone to lose determination or confidence; discouraging or dispiriting
Her death is particularly disheartening because it was preventable
Discourage
To dissuade or deter (someone) from doing something
My adviser discouraged me from applying to big universities.
Disheartening
To cause to lose hope or enthusiasm; dispirit.
Discourage
To try to prevent by expressing disapproval or raising objections
The agency discouraged all travel to the areas hardest hit by the disease.
Disheartening
Causing a person to lose heart; making despondent or gloomy.
Discourage
(transitive) To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.
Don't be discouraged by the amount of work left to do: you'll finish it in good time.
Disheartening
Present participle of dishearten
Discourage
(transitive) To persuade somebody not to do (something).
Disheartening
Causing loss of hope or enthusiasm.
Discourage
(rare) Lack of courage
Disheartening
Destructive of morale and self-reliance
Discourage
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.
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Discourage
To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts.
Discourage
Lack of courage; cowardliness.
Discourage
Try to prevent; show opposition to;
We should discourage this practice among our youth
Discourage
Deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged
Discourage
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
Common Curiosities
What does disheartening mean?
Disheartening describes the emotional effect of feeling a loss of motivation or spirit, often due to adverse events or circumstances.
How can a manager effectively discourage a bad practice?
A manager can effectively discourage a bad practice by clearly explaining the potential negative outcomes and providing better alternatives.
Can a success be disheartening?
Yes, success can be disheartening if it comes at a greater cost than expected or overshadows other important values or efforts.
What are the effects of discouraging feedback?
Discouraging feedback, if not handled constructively, can demotivate individuals and diminish their willingness to engage or improve.
How do you handle a disheartening situation?
Handling a disheartening situation can involve seeking support, focusing on positive aspects, and developing a plan to overcome challenges.
Is it always negative to discourage someone?
Not necessarily; discouraging someone can be protective or realistic, helping them avoid poor decisions or harmful consequences.
What does it mean to discourage someone?
To discourage someone means to persuade them not to take a particular action or dissuade them from following a course of action.
What can cause a person to feel disheartened?
Factors like failure, unmet expectations, or negative changes can cause a person to feel disheartened.
What is the difference between being discouraged and disheartened?
Being discouraged often involves external persuasion not to proceed with an action, while being disheartened is more about feeling emotionally let down or demotivated by circumstances.
How can leaders avoid disheartening their team?
Leaders can avoid disheartening their team by maintaining their consistency and goals.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Jacket vs. Jumper
Next Comparison
Statue vs. SculptureAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
