Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

disheartening

[dis-hahr-tn-ing] / dɪsˈhɑr tn ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
appalling
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alarming astounding awful dire dreadful frightening frightful ghastly harrowing hideous horrible horrific shocking terrible terrifying
STRONG
bad daunting dismaying gross heavy intimidating mean petrifying scaring unnerving
WEAK
fearful formidable grim grody horrid the end
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calming comforting delightful good nice pleasant pleasing wonderful
STRONG
polite
WEAK
encouraging reassuring satisfying
ADJECTIVE
bleak
Synonyms
STRONGEST
black cheerless dark dismal grim hopeless sad
STRONG
discouraging dreary gloomy somber
WEAK
comfortless drear funereal hard joyless melancholy mournful oppressive unpromising
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful encouraging glad happy hopeful joyful light pleasant sunny
WEAK
appealing comfortable comforting congenial nice
ADJECTIVE
depressing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bleak daunting dismal dispiriting distressing dreary gloomy heartbreaking sad
STRONG
black dejecting saddening
WEAK
funereal hopeless joyless melancholic melancholy mournful oppressive somber
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful comforting encouraging exhilarating glad happy joyful light pleasant sunny
WEAK
cheering
ADJECTIVE
disappointing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depressing disconcerting discouraging distasteful frustrating mediocre unpleasant unsatisfying
STRONG
bitter displeasing failing lame
WEAK
disagreeable falling short inadequate ineffective inferior insufficient mid unfulfilling unhappy uninteresting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable encouraging pleasant pleasing
STRONG
strong
WEAK
satisfactory
ADJECTIVE
discouraging
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bleak depressing disappointing dismal dispiriting dreary gloomy
STRONG
black dampening daunting deterring dismaying dissuading hindering repressing
WEAK
depressive disadvantageous inopportune off-putting oppressive unfavorable unpropitious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful encouraging happy light pleasant sunny
WEAK
auspicious favorable heartening inspiring inspiriting
ADJECTIVE
dismal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depressing dim discouraging dull ghastly horrible horrid miserable murky sad
WEAK
afflictive black boring cheerless cloudy dark depressed desolate despondent dingy disagreeable dispiriting doleful dolorous forlorn frowning funereal gruesome hopeless in the pits inauspicious joyless lonesome lowering lugubrious melancholy monotonous morbid oppressive overcast shadowy somber sorrowful tedious tenebrous troublesome unfortunate unhappy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful clear encouraging favorable happy intelligent joyful light luminous pleasant smart
WEAK
glad hopeful
ADJECTIVE
dispiriting
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crushing discouraging dismal
STRONG
demoralizing saddening
WEAK
cheerless gloomy joyless melancholy sad
ADJECTIVE
frightening
Synonyms
STRONGEST
daunting
WEAK
formidable rebarbative redoubtable
Antonyms
WEAK
comforting
ADJECTIVE
funereal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
elegiac gloomy lugubrious mournful solemn somber
WEAK
black bleak dark deathlike dirgelike dismal doleful dreary grave grim lamenting melancholy oppressive sad sepulchral serious woeful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy joyful light
WEAK
lively upbeat
ADJECTIVE
gloomy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bleak discouraging dismal dreary dull funereal somber
WEAK
acheronian acherontic bad black cheerless cold comfortless depressive desolate disconsolate dispiriting drab dusky joyless lugubrious morose oppressive saddening tenebrific
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful clear encouraging happy joyful light lively pleasant
WEAK
animated content encouraged exhilarating sparkling sunny uplifting vivacious
ADJECTIVE
off
Synonyms
STRONG
decomposed disappointing displeasing mortifying quiet slack sour turned
WEAK
bad low-quality not up to par not up to snuff poor putrid rancid rotten substandard unrewarding unsatisfactory
ADJECTIVE
oppressive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
brutal burdensome cruel depressing dictatorial harsh heavy-handed inhuman onerous overbearing tyrannical unjust
WEAK
backbreaking bleak confining demanding depressive despotic discouraging dismal dispiriting exacting exigent gloomy grievous grinding headache heavy hefty ironhanded mean rough going severe somber superincumbent taxing tough troublesome weighty
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy gentle kind nice
WEAK
calm cool mild relieving temperate
ADJECTIVE
sad
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bad dark depressing dismal miserable moving pathetic pitiful poignant regrettable serious sorry tragic
STRONG
discouraging dreary grave heart-rending joyless melancholic saddening tear-jerking upsetting
WEAK
calamitous deplorable disastrous discomposing dispiriting funereal grievous hapless lachrymose lamentable lugubrious oppressive pitiable shabby tearful unsatisfactory wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantageous blessed bright cheerful encouraging fortunate glad good happy hopeful joyful light lucky pleasant right unaffecting

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Meanwhile, after 11 losses in a row, the team is left facing a disheartening reality.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

He’s 0-6 in the playoffs and the Chargers’ disheartening loss to the New England Patriots in the wild-card playoffs probably gave him plenty of reasons to think about his future.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

It was disheartening to see the Washington Post publishing stories without Iranian reporters involved.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2026

While the situation is disheartening, Warner is looking to spearhead a positive outcome.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

He sat glumly through the rest of the hearing, holding his head, which I found even more disheartening than when he was argumentative and distraught.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson