Feeling Wheel

Sad · a word on the feelings wheel

Feeling discouraged

Feeling a loss of confidence or enthusiasm.

What feeling discouraged is like

Feeling discouraged means losing confidence or enthusiasm after setbacks. You might still want the goal but doubt whether it's worth trying again.

Discouraged or deflated?

Deflated is the drop right after one let-down. Discouraged is the loss of motivation that can build up after several. Read more about feeling deflated.

Finding discouraged on the feelings wheel

On the Feeling Wheel, discouraged sits in the Sad group. Start in the middle of the wheel with sad, then move outwards to discouraged. If it's close but not quite right, the other sad words below may fit better. It's also normal to feel more than one thing at once.

Other words in the Sad group

Sad words range from a mild let-down to deep grief and hopelessness.

  • Bleak Feeling hopeless or discouraged about the future
  • Depressed Feeling deep unhappiness or sadness
  • Hurt Feeling emotional pain or distress
  • Deflated Feeling temporarily let down or disappointed
  • Melancholy Feeling deep, reflective sadness
  • Sorrowful Feeling grief or sadness
  • Gloomy Feeling pessimistic or downcast
  • Insignificant Feeling unimportant or overlooked
  • Broken Feeling deeply emotionally damaged
  • Bored Feeling uninterested or weary
  • Numb Feeling unable to experience emotions
  • Apathetic Feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
  • Empty Feeling a lack of meaning or fulfilment
  • Despair Feeling complete loss of hope
  • Disillusioned Feeling disappointed that reality isn’t as expected
  • Miserable Feeling extremely unhappy or uncomfortable
  • Disappointed Feeling sad that expectations weren’t met
  • Indifferent Feeling no strong pull in any direction

See all 118 feelings wheel words

Name what you're feeling

Feeling Wheel puts all 118 of these words on one wheel. Tap the ones that fit, add a note if you like, and see your patterns over time. Free on iPhone and Android.