What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discourage
Example
The negative feedback discouraged her from pursuing her dreams. [discouraged: past tense]
Example
The high cost of the project discouraged the team from moving forward. [discourage: verb]
dissuade
Example
I tried to dissuade him from quitting his job without another one lined up. [dissuade: verb]
Example
She was successfully dissuaded from joining the risky investment scheme. [dissuaded: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Discourage is more commonly used in everyday language, while dissuade is more formal and often used in professional or academic settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between discourage and dissuade?
Dissuade is more formal than discourage and is often used in professional or academic settings. Discourage is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
