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 28, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "disheartening thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 28, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, disheartening thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 28 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "disheartening thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 28 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/disheartening/thesaurus/synonyms>