emboldened

adjective

em·​bold·​ened im-ˈbōl-dənd 

: made bold or bolder : instilled with boldness, courage, or resolution

"This is the way it's gonna be," Stoddard announced. He had reason to feel emboldened. So far, Tom Murphy and Dan Burke had backed his every decision.

—Ken Auletta

If the participant moves toward the creature, it avoids contact. But if the person doesn't move, the emboldened sprite edges closer and finally lands on an outstretched hand.

—Ivars Peterson

Synonyms of emboldened

• adventurous
• daring
• bold
• courageous
• brave
• fearless

Examples of emboldened in a Sentence

not too surprisingly, rock climbing tends to attract the more emboldened seekers of outdoor adventure

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for the first time in 25 years, a seven-day stoppage that emboldened labor unions nationwide. —Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

The Trench Coat A pop of red has been one of our favorite styling tricks—why not try it on for size as emboldened outerwear? —Minty Mellon, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026

An emboldened Trump seems hellbent on inflaming the situation in Minnesota, where protestors are standing against immigration raids that have spun far out of control. —Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Jan. 2026

This sends a signal of the Russians’ emboldened stance to the largest military alliance in history, at a time when the US role in it has been cast into doubt. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined above