encouragement

noun

en·​cour·​age·​ment in-ˈkər-ij-mənt How to pronounce encouragement (audio)
-ˈkə-rij-, 
en-
Synonyms of encouragementnext
1
: the act of encouraging : the state of being encouraged
2
: something that encourages

Synonyms of encouragement

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Examples of encouragement in a Sentence

Our aim is the encouragement of investment. the encouragement of plant growth teachers who give their students a lot of encouragement With support and encouragement from their parents, the students organized a fundraiser. They offered him gifts of money and other encouragements.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thanks to the Romanian government’s encouragement of IT, the country became something of an outsourcing hub, with a plentiful supply of engineers. — Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Angela recalled him providing clothing, shoes and money to people experiencing homelessness, along with the words of encouragement that came naturally to him. — Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 As captured by a parent, a note that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sent to its graduates includes kind words and encouragement from the star. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026 Amita Rao Following her success as Issa on the celebrated dark comedy Adults, and thanks to the encouragement of co-stars Owen Thiele and Malik Elassal, 27-year-old actress Amita Rao indulged in a few first-time splurges. — Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encouragement

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of encouragement was in 1549

Rhymes for encouragement

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Browse Nearby Words

encourage
encouragement
encourager
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Cite this Entry

“Encouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encouragement. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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