desalentar
verbCEFR B2
What does “desalentar” mean in English?
to discourage, to demoralise
to discourage, to demoralise (desalentar a alguien — reduce motivation or willingness to continue)
Example sentences
Los continuos recortes presupuestarios han desalentado a muchos investigadores, que han optado por trabajar en el extranjero.
The continuous budget cuts have discouraged many researchers, who have opted to work abroad.
Los primeros fracasos no deben desalentar a los emprendedores, sino motivarles a aprender de sus errores.
Initial failures should not discourage entrepreneurs, but motivate them to learn from their mistakes.
La burocracia excesiva desalienta la inversión extranjera y frena el crecimiento económico.
Excessive bureaucracy discourages foreign investment and holds back economic growth.
How to use it
Desalentar means 'to discourage' or 'to demoralise' — reducing a person's motivation, confidence, or willingness to continue. Takes a direct object (a person or group): desalentar a los investigadores. Distinct from disuadir (dissuade through argument) — desalentar affects morale emotionally; disuadir changes minds rationally.
Common mistake
Desalentar vs. disuadir: desalentar reduces emotional drive and morale; disuadir changes someone's mind through argument. Personal a is required for human objects: desalentar a los investigadores. The adjective desalentado/a (discouraged, despondent) is equally important at B2.