to dispirit

Examples

• All

• It's hard not to feel dispirit when faced with so many obstacles along the way.

• I didn't want to dispirit you like that.

  Rounders (1998)

• However, nothing dispirits, and nothing seems worthwhile disputing.

  Blog text (26)

• One thing that dispirits Canadian plan sponsors is that all this regulation applies to plans which are, in the first instance, voluntarily provided.

  Academic text (1990)

• Others lay low, cagily silent until all but one other bidder is out, and then enter the fray, hoping to shock and dispirit the one who felt the prize within grasp.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Still, for the final weeks of the campaign, there were cries and howls that the media was distorting the polls in order to dispirit conservatives in a coordinated effort to suppress the GOP turnout.

  Blog text (12)

• The constant delays began to dispirit the team, making them question their chances of success.

• His harsh criticism was meant to dispirit her, but it only made her more determined.

Synonyms

U

to upset

vsto dispirit

362 1.0

Make someone feel sad or worried

is more specific about removing enthusiasm, hope, or confidence

G

to get (someone) down

vsto dispirit

• Informal

87 4.2

To make someone feel sad or discouraged

is a more formal description of losing enthusiasm or confidence

D

to dismay

vsto dispirit

37 4.4

Make someone feel shocked or worried by something unexpected

focuses more narrowly on discouraging hope and confidence rather than shock

D

to demoralize

vsto dispirit

33 6.1

To make someone lose confidence or hope

reduces hope or enthusiasm more personally rather than group morale

D

to depress

vsto dispirit

32 4.1

To make someone feel sad and lose hope

focuses more on lowering enthusiasm and confidence rather than deep sadness

G

to get down

vsto dispirit

• Informal

22 4.1

To make someone feel sad or less hopeful

is similar but usually describes a stronger loss of hope or drive

D

to dishearten

vsto dispirit

8 5.3

To make someone lose hope or confidence

has the same personal discouraging effect but can be more formal

D

to daunt

vsto dispirit

7 7.2

To make someone feel afraid or less confident

targets loss of enthusiasm and hope rather than fear or fright

D

to deject

vsto dispirit

4 6.5

To make someone feel sad or less hopeful

leans more toward losing motivation and confidence than simple sadness

D

to dampen spirits

vsto dispirit

2 4.9

Make someone feel less happy and excited

often implies a stronger drop in hope or confidence

C

to cast down

vsto dispirit

1 6.3

To make someone feel sad or discouraged

highlights loss of hope or confidence more than general sadness

Antonyms

E

to encourage

∞ 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

I

to inspire

837 3.2

Cause someone to feel excited and ready to act

M

to motivate

437 3.5

Make someone want to do something

How Discouraging

to crush

386 4.7

to demoralize

33 6.1

to dishearten

8 5.3

to dispirit

1 7.6

to discourage

257 3.5

to deter

94 5.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology