verb
dispirit
dih-SPEER-uht/ˌdɪˈspɪrət/
To make someone lose hope or enthusiasm.
The coach's dismissive response dispirits the runner, whose shoulders slump.
Etymology
Spirit connects breath with life and, by extension, vitality and courage. To dispirit people is to deprive them of that inner vigor, leaving them discouraged or without enthusiasm.
More examples
- The team's early losses did not dispirit its fans.
- She felt dispirited after another unsuccessful job interview.
- It is dispiriting to see months of work go unused.
Forms
dispirit · dispirits · dispirited · dispiriting
Similar words
- discourage
- Can also mean persuading someone not to do something.
- dishearten
- Emphasizes losing heart or confidence when faced with difficulty.
- demoralize
- Often suggests a deeper collapse of confidence or group morale.