What does discourager mean?
A discourager is a person or thing that discourages — that is, someone or something that attempts to dissuade others from acting, or that drains their confidence and enthusiasm. The word most often appears for people: critics, skeptics, or naysayers who repeatedly tell others their goals are unrealistic, as in 'she ignored her discouragers and pressed on'. It can also apply to impersonal forces, such as cost, risk, or regulation, that deter people from a course of action. Formed by adding the agentive suffix '-er' to the verb 'discourage', it belongs to a family that includes encouragement and discouragement. Although less frequent than those relatives, 'discourager' fills a useful niche in English by naming not the feeling of being discouraged but its source. Its tone is generally neutral to mildly negative, and it appears most naturally in reflective or motivational contexts where obstacles — human or otherwise — are being discussed.
nounA person or thing that discourages; one that deters others from an action or dampens their enthusiasm.
- A person who habitually discourages others or dampens their enthusiasm.
- A thing or factor that serves as a deterrent to some action.
"Her constant criticism acted as a discourager rather than a motivator."
"He refused to let the doubters and discouragers around him derail his ambitions."
"High interest rates proved a powerful discourager to first-time home buyers."
Regular plural; frequently used collectively ('the discouragers') in motivational writing.
"The world has no shortage of discouragers, but few genuine encouragers."
Every 'discourager' carries a hidden heart inside it — the word traces straight back to Latin cor, meaning heart, so to discourage someone was originally to take away their heart.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discourager
The verb 'discourage' entered English in the late Middle Ages from Old French 'descoragier', built on Latin 'cor' meaning 'heart'; to discourage was literally to deprive someone of heart or courage. Adding the agentive suffix '-er' produced 'discourager', denoting one who does this. The same Latin root gives English cognates such as 'courage', 'encourage', and 'cordial' (via Latin 'cor/cordis'), and more distantly Greek-derived 'cardiac'.
Related word forms
How discourager is actually used
Relatively uncommon compared with its verb 'discourage' and noun 'discouragement'; often used in the plural ('the discouragers') in motivational writing. Neutral register, though slightly formal or literary in flavor.
Easily confused with discourager
Discouragement is the feeling or state of losing confidence, while a discourager is the person or thing that causes it.
An encourager inspires confidence and effort, whereas a discourager undermines them.