# discourage

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪsˈkʌɹɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #13,498

## Definitions
1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.
2. To persuade somebody not to do (something).

## Etymology
From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. By surface analysis, dis- + courage.

## Easily confused with
- **discourse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/discourage-vs-discourse)
- **discouraged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/discourage-vs-discouraged)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ddiscourage`, `dicsourage`, `disccourage`, `discoruage`, `discouarge`, `discouraeg`, `discouragge`, `discourgae`, `discourrage`, `discuorage`, `disocurage`, `disscourage`, `dsicourage`, `idscourage`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/discourage