12
soul-crushing
8
dark(adjective, clear, light, clean, grim)
5
cringeworthy
5
demoralizing
5
discouraging(verb, adjective, light)
5
gloomy(adjective, clear, light, sad, depressing)
4
pessimistic(adjective, feelings, emotions, optimistic)
4
bleak(adjective, depressing)
4
calamitous
4
cheerless
4
depressing
4
disheartening
4
dismal(adjective, clear, light)
4
foreboding
4
hopeless(adjective, good, pessimistic, promising, futile)
4
lonely
3
catastrophic
3
daunting
3
dire
3
disappointing
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APASmart Define. (2016). encouraging thesaurus. Retrieved September 25, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/encouraging/thesaurus/antonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "encouraging thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/encouraging/thesaurus/antonyms (accessed September 25, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, encouraging thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 25 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/encouraging/thesaurus/antonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "encouraging thesaurus" 23 March 2016. Web. 25 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/encouraging/thesaurus/antonyms>