Discouragement is a feeling of low spirits that often arises due to a lack of success or progress in a particular area. There are many synonyms for discouragement, including despondency, dejection, demoralization, hopelessness, disheartenment, despair, and resignation. Each of these synonyms captures the sense of defeat, disappointment, and dispiritedness that comes with discouragement. Despondency and dejection both suggest a deep feeling of sadness and hopelessness, while demoralization emphasizes the loss of confidence or spirit. Hopelessness and disheartenment both express a sense of despair or bleakness, and resignation conveys a sense of acceptance of the discouraging situation at hand. Whatever synonym is used, discouragement is a challenging emotion to overcome, requiring positive thinking, perseverance, and a strong sense of self-belief.