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adj. Causing to lose heart; making despondent or gloomy; scare; discourage.

v. Present participle of dishearten.

adj. Causing loss of hope or enthusiasm.

adj. destructive of morale and self-reliance

"Equally disheartening is the fact that the Iranian authorities are repressing women in a far more dangerous and direct way than passing draconian "family protection" laws: dozens, if not hundreds of women's rights activists have been personally targeted for arrest or extralegal attacks."

discouraging   

demoralizing    demoralising    dispiriting   

dishearten   

heartening    smartening   

frustrate    daunt    gratify    humiliate    unfavourable