Antonyms for the phrase "giving impetus" which means to provide a driving force, can be terms like restraining, hindering, discouraging, or inhibiting. When something is restraining, it means it is holding back, restricting, or limiting progress. Hindering implies an obstruction or delay, stopping or slowing down growth. Discouraging means to cause one to lose confidence, and inhibiting means stopping or prohibiting from proceeding. These concepts stand in direct opposition to giving impetus as they refer to states or actions that hinder forward movement. By knowing these antonyms, one can better understand the various factors that can either help or hinder progress in any given situation.