Definitions
- Advising someone against doing something that is potentially harmful or dangerous. - Persuading someone not to engage in a particular activity or behavior. - Encouraging someone to avoid a certain course of action.
- Dissuading someone from pursuing a particular goal or ambition. - Causing someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm for a task or activity. - Preventing someone from taking action or making progress towards a desired outcome.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve advising or persuading against a particular course of action.
- 2Both words can be used to prevent harm or negative consequences.
- 3Both words can be used to influence someone's behavior or decision-making process.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Dehort focuses on advising against a specific action, while discourage focuses on dissuading someone from pursuing a particular goal or ambition.
- 2Intensity: Dehort is more forceful and urgent than discourage, which can be more passive or subtle.
- 3Scope: Dehort is typically used in a narrower context, while discourage can be used in a wider range of situations.
- 4Connotation: Dehort is less common and may sound formal or archaic, while discourage is more commonly used in everyday language.
- 5Usage: Dehort is not as versatile as discourage and is typically used in more formal or academic contexts.
Remember this!
Dehort and discourage are synonyms that both involve advising or persuading against a particular course of action. However, dehort is more forceful and urgent, focusing on advising against a specific action, while discourage is more passive or subtle, focusing on dissuading someone from pursuing a particular goal or ambition. Additionally, dehort is less commonly used and may sound formal or archaic, while discourage is more versatile and commonly used in everyday language.