- (transitive) to weaken or destroy the hope, courage, enthusiasm, etc, of
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•heart•en /dɪsˈhɑrtən/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
dis•heart•en•ing, adj.: disheartening economic news.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to lower or depress the hope, courage, or spirits of;
discourage:News of another job rejection disheartened him badly.
dis•heart•en•ing, adj.: disheartening economic news.
dis•heart•en
(dis här′tn),USA pronunciation v.t.
dis•heart′en•er, n.
dis•heart′en•ing•ly, adv.
dis•heart′en•ment, n.
- to depress the hope, courage, or spirits of;
discourage.
- dis-1 + hearten 1590–1600
dis•heart′en•ing•ly, adv.
dis•heart′en•ment, n.
- dismay, daunt, deject, dispirit.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dishearten /dɪsˈhɑːtən/ vb
'dishearten' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
daunt
- deject
- demoralize
- stuffing
- depress
- dis
- disappoint
- discourage
- dismay
- dispirit
- dull
- encourage