discountenance
1 of 2verb
dis·coun·te·nance di-ˈskau̇n-tə-nən(t)s 
-ˈskau̇nt-nən(t)s
discountenanced; discountenancing; discountenances
transitive verb
1
: abash, disconcert
2
: to look with disfavor on : discourage by evidence of disapproval
discountenanced all bellicose statements
discountenance
2 of 2noun
: disapprobation, disfavor
Synonyms
Verb
- deprecate
- disapprove (of)
- disesteem
- disfavor
- dislike
- frown (on or upon)
- mislike
- reprove
- tsk-tsk
- tut (over or about)
- tut-tut (over or about)
Noun
- deprecation
- disapprobation
- disapproval
- disesteem
- disfavor
- dislike
- displeasure
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb a social philosopher who discountenanced all programs for helping the needy, claiming that society should encourage survival of the fittest the political party was discountenanced by the actions of a few of its overly zealous members Noun made known his long-standing discountenance of any form of religious belief
Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1579, in the meaning defined above
discountenancing
verb
1
as in disliking
to hold an unfavorable opinion of a social philosopher who discountenanced all programs for helping the needy, claiming that society should encourage survival of the fittest Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disliking
- criticizing
- rejecting
- denouncing
- deprecating
- misliking
- reproving
- disesteeming
- condemning
- disfavoring
- reprobating
- scorning
- tsk-tsking
- disrelishing
- reprehending
- scolding
- looking down one's nose (on)
- disapproving (of)
- tut-tutting (over or about)
- frowning (on or upon)
- discommending
- censuring
- tutting (over or about)
- pooh-poohing
- rebuking
- chiding
- poohing
- reproaching
- objecting (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approving
- favoring
- liking
- supporting
- endorsing
- sanctioning
- indorsing
- enjoying
- loving
- digging
- relishing
- adoring
- fancying
- delighting (in)
- grooving (on)
- reveling (in)
- revelling (in)
2
as in embarrassing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress the political party was discountenanced by the actions of a few of its overly zealous members Synonyms & Similar Words
- embarrassing
- flustering
- confusing
- rattling
- abashing
- mortifying
- disconcerting
- bothering
- disturbing
- nonplussing
- distressing
- discomfiting
- upsetting
- unsettling
- humiliating
- confounding
- nonplusing
- disquieting
- fazing
- agitating
- discomforting
- discomposing
- perturbing
- unhinging
- shaming
- dismaying
- debasing
- degrading
- demeaning
- chagrining
- putting off
- queering
- humbling
- putting out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relieving
- comforting
- consoling
- encouraging
- soothing
- calming
- assuring
- cheering
- reassuring
- emboldening
- buoying
- heartening