Cool MateDare vs Discourage
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dare
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Discourage
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Dare
| Dare | Discourage | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/deə(r)/","/deəz/","/deəd/","/ˈdeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/der/","/derz/","/derd/","/ˈderɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ/","/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒɪz/","/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒd/","/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒ/","/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒɪz/","/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒd/","/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To challenge someone to do something risky or brave. | to make someone feel less confident or hopeful |
| Example | I dare you to jump into the lake even though it's cold. | The teacher did not want to discourage the students from trying challenging problems. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | barely, hardly, scarcely, wouldn’t | actively, positively, strongly, try to, from, (not) easily discouraged, actively, positively, strongly, try to, from, (not) easily discouraged |
| Antonyms | shy away, back down, refuse | encourage, support, motivate |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'dare' with 'dare to', which is less common in modern usage., Using 'dare' incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb., Omitting 'to' in phrases like 'I dare you to'. | Confused with 'discouraged' which describes a feeling., Using 'discourage' without an object, e.g., saying 'I discourage' without specifying what., Incorrectly using 'discourage' in a context where 'support' would be better. |
| Usage notes | Typically used in contexts involving challenges or risks. Can be formal when discussing ethical issues, but is often informal in social settings among friends. | Use 'discourage' when talking about preventing someone from doing something, especially in a supportive context. Avoid using it in overly negative or harsh situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Dare vs Discourage
What's the difference between Dare and Discourage?
Dare: To challenge someone to do something risky or brave. Discourage: to make someone feel less confident or hopeful
Which is more common: Dare and Discourage?
Dare is the most common in everyday English.
Are Dare and Discourage the same CEFR level?
Dare: B2, Discourage: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Dare and Discourage?
Dare: verb, Discourage: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Dare: I dare you to jump into the lake even though it's cold. Discourage: The teacher did not want to discourage the students from trying challenging problems.
Can I use Dare and Discourage interchangeably?
Not always. Dare and Discourage are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.