discouragements
Things that dishearten
Discouragements are things that make you less confident, less hopeful, or less willing to continue pursuing something.
They can be external obstacles, critical remarks, or setbacks that dampen enthusiasm: Despite the discouragements from her family, she pursued a career in art.
The word also refers to the emotional states these obstacles produce—feelings of deflation or loss of motivation.
The discouragements of the first year nearly made him quit.
Barrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
constraint · limitation · restriction · blockade · roadblock · hurdle · bottleneck · stumbling block
Denial of acceptance
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
- refusalAct of declining
- dismissalRemoval from position
- brush-offAbrupt, dismissive rejection
cold shoulder · repulse · denial · turndown · spurning · slight · nonacceptance · knockback
Profound loss of hope
- demoralizationLoss of confidence and hope
- dejectionState of lowness
- despairTotal absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
melancholy · gloom · pessimism · disillusionment · resignation · defeatism · downheartedness · dispiritedness
Lack of success
- defeatVictory over another
- reversalComplete change of direction
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
adversity · trouble · mishap · relapse · regression · stumble · hiccup · complication
Alert about danger
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- disincentiveFactor discouraging action
counterargument · objection · remonstrance · exhortation · caveat
hindrance
Barrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
obstruction · constraint · limitation · restriction · blockade · roadblock · hurdle · bottleneck · stumbling block · handicap
rejection
Denial of acceptance
brush-off · cold shoulder · repulse · denial · turndown · spurning · slight · nonacceptance · knockback · thumbs-down
despondency
Profound loss of hope
- demoralizationLoss of confidence and hope
- dejectionState of lowness
- despairTotal absence of hope
hopelessness · melancholy · gloom · pessimism · disillusionment · resignation · defeatism · downheartedness · dispiritedness · bleakness
failure
Lack of success
- defeatVictory over another
- reversalComplete change of direction
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
misfortune · adversity · trouble · mishap · relapse · regression · stumble · hiccup · complication · bad news
warning
Alert about danger
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
disincentive · counterargument · objection · remonstrance · exhortation · caveat
discouragementsencouragements
Expressions of support
inspirations · motivations · reassurances · uplifts · heartening
discouragementsincentives
Rewards prompting action
encouragements · inducements · motivators · spurs · motivations
discouragementsreassurances
Statements restoring confidence
comforts · consolations · encouragements · uplifts · morale boosters