1. to actively dissuade or prevent someone from establishing, maintaining, or pursuing a relationship or link with another person or entity
The company decided to discourage connection between competing departments to maintain confidentiality.
A empresa decidiu desestimular a conexão entre departamentos concorrentes para manter a confidencialidade.
2. to make it difficult or undesirable for people to interact, communicate, or relate with one another
Social barriers discourage connection among different socioeconomic groups.
As barreiras sociais desestimulam a conexão entre diferentes grupos socioeconômicos.