20
depressing(verb, adjective, person, dull, pain)
18
discouraging(adjective, verb, dull, gloomy, dark)
17
dispiriting(adjective, dull, gloomy, dark, miserable)
17
unsurprising
15
sad(adjective, person, pain, sorrow, negative)
14
dismal(adjective, dull, pain, gloomy, miserable)
13
disappointing(verb, adjective, person, sorrow, negative)
12
gloomy(adjective, person, dull, sad, dark)
11
bleak(adjective, person, dull, dark, gloomy)
10
daunting(verb, adjective, dissuading, dejecting, de-motivating)
10
demoralizing(adjective, depressing, intimidating)
8
deterring(verb, dissuading, dejecting, de-motivating)
8
dreary(dull, sad, pain, dark, gloomy)
7
cheerless(adjective, person, dull, pain, dark)
7
mournful(adjective, person, sad, pain, gloomy)
6
dampening(verb, dissuading, dejecting, de-motivating)
6
disconcerting(verb, adjective, disappointing)
6
dismaying(verb, adjective, dejecting)
6
funereal(adjective, dull, dark, gloomy, miserable)
6
miserable(adjective, person, dull, sad, gloomy)
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APASmart Define. (2016). disheartening thesaurus. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "disheartening thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 26, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, disheartening thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 26 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "disheartening thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 26 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms>