discourages

Discourages is the third-person singular present tense of the verb discourage. The core meaning is to deter or dissuade someone from taking a particular action, or to sap their confidence, enthusiasm, or resolve. The term often connotes a negative influence on motivation or initiative.

Usage commonly involves statements or actions aimed at reducing the likelihood of a specific behavior. It is used with a direct object, as in “The program discourages students from dropping out.” Discouragement can be intentional, such as policy messaging or parental guidance, or unconscious, arising from personalities, environments, or cultural norms. It appears in various contexts including education, parenting, workplace management, media messaging, and public policy.

Impact and interpretation: Discouragement can protect people from harm or poor choices, but excessive or misdirected discouragement can hinder learning, risk-taking, and resilience. It relates to broader topics in psychology and sociology, such as motivation, self-efficacy, and social norms. Effective communication may aim to discourage harmful behavior while still supporting constructive exploration and growth.

See also: discourage, discouragement, dissuasion, deterrence. Etymology: discourage derives from the prefix dis- plus courage, with usage dating to the early modern period. The form discourages denotes the action performed by a subject in present tense.