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Dispair vs Discourage - What's the difference?

dispair | discourage |

In lang=en terms the difference between dispair and discourage

is that dispair is to separate (a pair) while discourage is to persuade somebody not to do something.

As verbs the difference between dispair and discourage

is that dispair is to separate (a pair) while discourage is to extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.

As a noun discourage is

lack of courage.

dispair

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To separate (a pair).
  • I have dispaired two doves. — Beaumont and Fletcher.

    Usage notes

    * Not to be confused with (despair). (Webster 1913)

    discourage

    English

    Verb

    (discourag)
  • To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.
  • Don't be discouraged by the amount of work left to do: you'll finish it in good time.
  • * Bible, Col. iii. 21
  • Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged .
  • To persuade somebody not to do something.
  • * Abraham Lincoln
  • Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.

    Antonyms

    * encourage

    See also

    * deter * dissuade

    Noun

    (-)
  • Lack of courage
  • Synonyms

    * (lack of courage) cowardliness