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 25, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "disheartening thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 25, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, disheartening thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 25 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "disheartening thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 25 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms>