ENCOURAGE Synonyms: 201 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of encourage are embolden , hearten , and inspirit . While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," 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 might 'embolden' be a better fit than 'encourage'?

While the synonyms embolden and encourage are close in meaning, 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 is 'hearten' a more appropriate choice than 'encourage'?

The words hearten and encourage can be used in similar contexts, but hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal. // a hospital patient heartened by good news

Q: Where would 'inspirit' be a reasonable alternative to 'encourage'?

The meanings of inspirit and encourage largely overlap; however, inspirit , somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something. // patriots inspirited the people to resist

encourage

verb

in-ˈkər-ij

Definition of encourage

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to promote

to help the growth or development of asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to provoke

to rouse to strong feeling or action the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to urge

to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb encourage differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of encourage are embolden, hearten, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.

the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

When might embolden be a better fit than encourage?

While the synonyms embolden and encourage are close in meaning, 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 is hearten a more appropriate choice than encourage?

The words hearten and encourage can be used in similar contexts, but hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

Where would inspirit be a reasonable alternative to encourage?

The meanings of inspirit and encourage largely overlap; however, 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 encourage These are not encouraging trends for someone upon whom the Yankees will heavily rely come the postseason. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has given away more than 300 million books for free to encourage early literacy. — Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Husby encouraged all members of the family to attend and participate in the boat-buying process. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Indeed, our public institutions encourage the promulgation of private paperwork. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encourage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourage

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

When applied to the scalp, certain peptides can send signals that promote follicle function, extend the growth phase of the hair cycle, and strengthen the tissue surrounding the follicle.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of promote

Verb

By the mid-nineteenth century, the it-narrative began to interest authors invested less in provoking excitement than in guiding the moral development of their readers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Ukraine’s recent strikes into Russia also have exposed weaknesses in Russia’s air defenses, which could prompt Putin to think twice about provoking a retaliatory attack.

— Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of provoke

Verb

The criticism then broadened, with Jewish leaders, museum donors and New York politicians publicly urging the museum to reconsider.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
The Sierra Club emailed notices to members last week urging them to enter the permit lottery again.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of urge

Verb

For leaders, cultivating an environment where people actively seek out and fill these gaps is what separates adaptive companies from stagnant ones.

— Stacy L. Hambleton, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
For years, the British American brothers cultivated the image that laws did not apply to them even as legal troubles mounted in the UK, Romania and the US.

— Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

Chan’s parents always treated their back pain from laborious food industry jobs with acupuncture and cupping, the practice of using cups or suction on the skin to stimulate blood flow and the flow of chi, or energy.

— Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Featured in over-the-counter topical products, the vitamin A derivative is found ubiquitously in anti-aging skin-care products, selected for its ability to increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen.

— Ellie Davis, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulate

Verb

The Property Masters Guild aims to highlight and elevate the craft of the Property Master by raising awareness, fostering collaboration among craft artisans, educating its members and inspiring future generations of Property Masters.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Curry’s grandfather took him to music halls, fostering his love for the art.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of foster

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encounters

encourage

encouraged

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

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