discouraged

/dɪˈskɜrəʤd/

Other forms: discouragedly

If you work and work on a project and never seem to make any progress, you may feel discouraged, meaning your enthusiasm and optimism have been replaced by doubt and negativity.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged, you won’t be surprised to learn that the word’s French origins refer to courage that has being taken away. The adjective describes people who no longer feel that good things will happen, such as discouraged job-seekers, who despite sending hundreds of applications to prospective employers, never get any responses. They may have "lost the courage" to keep looking for work.

Definitions of discouraged

1. adjective

   lacking in resolution
   “the accident left others discouraged about going there”

   synonyms:

   irresolute

   uncertain how to act or proceed
2. adjective

   made less hopeful or enthusiastic
   “felt discouraged by the magnitude of the problem”

   synonyms: demoralised, demoralized, disheartened

   pessimistic

   expecting the worst possible outcome