<p><strong>Adjective:</strong></p><ul><li>deprived of or lacking in courage, hope, or confidence:<ul><li>The discouraged writer discarded the poem, but it was retrieved by a young soldier who sent it off for publication.</li><li>Another discouraged mother reported that she had no friends with whom to share childcare duties.</li></ul></li><li>dissuaded or obstructed from doing something:<ul><li>A third of the discouraged firms would probably have qualified for loans had they applied.</li><li>A discouraged worker is one who wants to work but is not looking for a job because of a perceived lack of demand.</li></ul></li><li>disapproved of:<ul><li>Climbing on the safety railing is a strongly discouraged activity.</li><li>We consider payday lenders to be a discouraged industry.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Verb:</strong></p><ul><li>the simple past tense and past participle of discourage.</li></ul>