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Glite Dictionary
unencouraging

unencouraging

6.5
Something that makes people feel less hopeful or confident
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnɪnˈkɜrɪdʒɪŋ/
translation icon : desalentador
  • The market reports were unencouraging, suggesting a tough year ahead.

Examples

  • His unencouraging attitude made it harder for us to stay motivated.

  • Don't be unencouraging!

  • The results of the experiment were rather unencouraging for the research team.

  • The news was unencouraging.

  • His unenthusiastic response was quite unencouraging for her hopes of a promotion.

  • The coach's unencouraging remarks left the players feeling defeated before the game.

  • The lack of positive feedback from the audience was unencouraging for the young performer.

Synonyms

unfavorable
vsunencouraging
  • US
31 4.5

Not good for success or approval

focuses on lack of support and hope, not necessarily explicit disapproval
disheartening
vsunencouraging
26 5.2

Causing someone to lose confidence or hope

is a broader lack of support rather than an active cause of loss
unhelpful
vsunencouraging
17 3.0

Not giving useful help or advice

is about lacking confidence or hope, not just absence of useful help
discouraging
vsunencouraging
15 3.9

Causing someone to feel less confident or hopeful about trying something

is the neutral absence of support that does not cause active loss of confidence
unsupportive
vsunencouraging
4 5.0

Does not give help or support to someone

focuses on lacking confidence or hope rather than providing practical help
inauspicious
vsunencouraging
4 8.1

Likely to bring bad luck and make success unlikely

is about failing to give confidence or support, not about luck or fate
unreassuring
vsunencouraging
6.9

Making you feel worried or unsafe

is about withholding support or hope rather than increasing anxiety
unpositive
vsunencouraging
7.5

Having a negative or discouraging attitude

is specifically about not giving confidence or hope rather than general negativity

Antonyms

encouraging
73 1.9

Giving someone support or hope so they feel more confident

How Encouraging

inspiring
138 3.6
encouraging
73 1.9
neutral
218 3.6
unencouraging
6.5
discouraging
15 3.9

Surface Forms

unencouraging positive

Morphology

unencouraging = encouraging (transparent) = un + encourage + ing

The adjective 'encouraging' is clearly formed from 'encourage' + '-ing', and 'un-' transparently negates that adjective.

Etymology

Unencouraging starts with un- meaning 'not' and the main part encourage, which comes from courage meaning 'heart' or 'bravery'. So unencouraging is like 'not giving heart', and that is why it means not giving support, hope, or confidence.