Skip to main content
to dishearten

to dishearten

8 5.3
To make someone lose hope or confidence
  • verb
  • /dɪsˈhɑːrtən/
translation icon : desanimar
  • He tried to inspire the team, but they became disheartened after losing the final match.
  • become disheartened

Examples

  • Whether one is encouraged or disheartened by this fact, it is wrong to suggest otherwise.

    Blog text (22)
  • We should not, however, become disheartened about studying resistance as an end in itself, I believe.

    Academic text (2003)
  • I think the reason I am disheartened is what he has done to language.

    Blog text (23)
  • "Put this way, the question disheartened the colonel."

    Fiction book (2002)
  • A helping hand, a hug, even a simple smile can encourage the disheartened and make their lives better.

    Academic text (2005)
  • My advice would be to love what they do, follow, and never be disheartened by obstacles.

    Blog text (20)
  • The total group was unhappy with their first draft results; some of the most involved were becoming disheartened.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Defeat at the castle seems to have utterly disheartened King Arthur.

  • All right, look, don't get disheartened.

  • The victory of the FIS at the polls disheartened the military.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

to disappoint
vsto dishearten
492 1.0

Fail to do what someone hoped for

describes the emotional loss of hope or confidence rather than unmet expectations
to get (someone) down
vsto dishearten
  • Informal
87 4.2

To make someone feel sad or discouraged

stresses the specific loss of hope or confidence rather than general unhappiness
to sadden
vsto dishearten
76 2.3

To make someone feel sad

focuses more narrowly on losing hope or confidence rather than sadness
to demoralize
vsto dishearten
33 6.1

To make someone lose confidence or hope

focuses on individual loss of hope or confidence rather than group morale
to depress
vsto dishearten
32 4.1

To make someone feel sad and lose hope

targets loss of hope or confidence rather than general sadness
to put off
vsto dishearten
22 3.7

Make someone not want to do something

centres on causing loss of hope or confidence rather than creating dislike
to dampen spirits
vsto dishearten
2 4.9

Make someone feel less happy and excited

implies a stronger loss of hope or confidence rather than mild reduction
to cast down
vsto dishearten
1 6.3

To make someone feel sad or discouraged

emphasizes the specific act of causing hopelessness or lost confidence
to dispirit
vsto dishearten
1 7.6

To make someone lose hope or confidence

is the broader act of causing loss of hope or confidence

Antonyms

2.3

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

837 3.2

Cause someone to feel excited and ready to act

13 5.5

Make someone feel happier or more confident

How Discouraging

to crush
386 4.7
to demoralize
33 6.1
to dishearten
8 5.3
to discourage
257 3.5
to disappoint
492 1.0

Surface Forms

dishearten infinitive
disheartened past participle
disheartening present participle
disheartens third person singular

Morphology

dishearten = hearten (semi-transparent) = dis + heart + en

For a learner who knows 'hearten', adding 'dis-' clearly gives the opposite sense of removing encouragement or confidence.

Etymology

The word dishearten is made of dis- meaning 'not' and heart meaning 'courage' or 'inner strength'. So to dishearten someone is to take away their 'heart' or courage, which is why it means to make them lose hope or confidence.