EMBOLDEN Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'embolden' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of embolden are encourage , hearten , and inspirit . While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance. // emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

Q: When might 'encourage' be a better fit than 'embolden'?

While the synonyms encourage and embolden are close in meaning, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency. // the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

Q: When could 'hearten' be used to replace 'embolden'?

Although the words hearten and embolden have much in common, hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal. // a hospital patient heartened by good news

Q: When is 'inspirit' a more appropriate choice than 'embolden'?

The words inspirit and embolden are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit , somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something. // patriots inspirited the people to resist

embolden

verb

im-ˈbōl-dən

Definition of embolden

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose his poor showing in his first swim meet just emboldened him to train even harder

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How does the verb embolden differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of embolden are encourage, hearten, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.

emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

When might encourage be a better fit than embolden?

While the synonyms encourage and embolden are close in meaning, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.

the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

When could hearten be used to replace embolden?

Although the words hearten and embolden have much in common, hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

When is inspirit a more appropriate choice than embolden?

The words inspirit and embolden are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.

patriots inspirited the people to resist

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of embolden The United States’ drop in credibility has also emboldened many American adversaries to push ahead with initiatives that would have been unthinkable 10 years ago, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz being the prime example. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2026 The settlers, emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, have ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and villages, harassing residents and setting homes, mosques and fields ablaze. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Critics say Netanyahu's government, which includes ultranationalist, pro-settler ministers, has emboldened the settlers, leading to the increase in attacks. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Indeed, many are expanding their diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, which may further embolden the group to tighten its repression and advance its extreme policies. — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for embolden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for embolden

Verb

Sima Sistani, who led WeightWatchers for close to three years before departing in 2024, is launching Liberation of Flowers, inspired by her Persian roots.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Eklipse is inspired by Wetscher’s experience when details of the death of his father from AIDS back in the 1990s were kept from him.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of inspire

Verb

Producer and 10 Lives founder and CEO Daniel Catullo set the stage for such a party by introducing the film and encouraging audience members to get out of their seats during the showing and record clips of the doc.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
So his church—which has raised many millions of dollars for good causes, and operates a local food pantry and food truck—decided to distribute lawn signs simply encouraging people to be kind.

— Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of encourage

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embodying

embolden

emboldened

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“Embolden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embolden. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of embolden

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