Cool MateDisappoint vs Discourage
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Disappoint
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Discourage
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Disappoint
| Disappoint | Discourage | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnts/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnts/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ/","/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒɪz/","/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒd/","/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒ/","/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒɪz/","/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒd/","/dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make someone feel sad because something is not as good as expected. | to make someone feel less confident or hopeful |
| Example | Her decision to cancel the concert is bound to disappoint her fans. | 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 | disappoint someone, disappoint expectations, disappoint a friend, disappoint fans, disappoint in | actively, positively, strongly, try to, from, (not) easily discouraged, actively, positively, strongly, try to, from, (not) easily discouraged |
| Antonyms | please, satisfy, delight | encourage, support, motivate |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'disappointment' as a verb., Using 'disappoint' without an object, e.g., 'He disappointed' instead of 'He disappointed me.' | 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 | Use 'disappoint' when expressing feelings of letdown. It's appropriate for both serious and casual situations but avoid using it in overly casual contexts like slang. | Use 'discourage' when talking about preventing someone from doing something, especially in a supportive context. Avoid using it in overly negative or harsh situations. |
Frequently asked questions: Disappoint vs Discourage
What's the difference between Disappoint and Discourage?
Disappoint: To make someone feel sad because something is not as good as expected. Discourage: to make someone feel less confident or hopeful
Which is more common: Disappoint and Discourage?
Disappoint is the most common in everyday English.
Are Disappoint and Discourage the same CEFR level?
Disappoint: B2, Discourage: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Disappoint and Discourage interchangeably?
Not always. Disappoint 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.