nurture

nurture

verb

Definition of NURTURE

1

to help the growth or development of <wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent>

Synonyms advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promote

Related Words advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold; endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite; abet, aid, assist; advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout; agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)

Near Antonyms ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe; battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose; repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, halt, retard; encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle

Antonyms discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

2

to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <she feels that her lifelong practice of reading the Bible daily has nurtured her in ways she cannot describe>

Synonyms edify, educate, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, nurture

Related Words elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift; better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform; exalt, glorify, transfigure

Near Antonyms confuse, perplex, puzzle; becloud, cloud, darken, obscure

3

to supply with nourishment <nurtured her children through the long winters with home-cooked soup>

Synonyms nourish, nurture

Related Words sate, satiate, satisfy; nurse, suckle; cloy, fill, surfeit; fortify, replenish, strengthen; feed; board, cater, provision, victual