FOSTER Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

foster

verb

Definition of foster

as in to promote

to help the growth or development of the head librarian firmly declared that it is indeed the duty of local government to foster learning and a love of reading

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to raise

to bring to maturity through care and education a greathearted couple fostering two adopted children as well as three more of their own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 foster Tiny pieces may begin to fall off, contaminating your food, while those with a crack in them can foster bacteria growth. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Shaking the patient’s hand is one small way to begin building trust and fostering a sense of human connection. — Zain Khawaja, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026 That reality seems to have fostered a sense of entitlement rather than gratitude. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026 Second, Design With not For emphasizes co-creating solutions directly with employees, fostering genuine ownership and belonging. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foster

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foster

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

This comes after shares of Target spiked last Wednesday after the retailer reported second-quarter top- and bottom-line gains and raised its outlook for the year.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
If passed, the USPS will raise rates by an average of 6% for retail and commercial USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Parcel Select shipments, according to the USPS press release.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of raise

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

Verb

City leaders and the WACO Theater Center see the reopening as an economic and cultural engine that is expected to draw thousands of patrons, spotlight Leimert Park’s Black Cultural Arts District and nurture emerging local artists.

— LaMonica Peters, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
The heavy snows purify the air and insulate the food warehouses, locking in the high humidity and stable chill necessary to nurture delicate winter koji and yeast strains without catastrophic temperature spikes.

— Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of nurture

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

Ocean-going seabirds feed at sea, return to the cliffs to breed, their guano transporting marine nutrients onto land and fertilizing the ground below.

— Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Love emphasized that a week of partying and art viewing on the playa can breed ferocity.

— Henry Alford, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of breed

Browse Nearby Words

fossils

foster

fosterage

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Foster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foster. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of foster

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes