What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discouraged
Example
After failing the exam, she felt discouraged and unsure about her abilities. [discouraged: adjective]
Example
He discouraged his son from pursuing a career in music, citing the difficulty of the industry. [discouraged: verb]
disheartened
Example
The team was disheartened after losing the championship game. [disheartened: adjective]
Example
She was disheartened by the constant rejection letters from job applications. [disheartened: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Discouraged is more commonly used in everyday language, while disheartened is less common and may be more formal or literary.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between discouraged and disheartened?
While both words can be used in formal or informal contexts, disheartened may be more formal or literary due to its less common usage.
