embolden

verb

em·​bold·​en im-ˈbōl-dən 

emboldened; emboldening; emboldens

transitive verb

: to impart boldness or courage to : to instill with boldness, courage, or resolution enough to overcome timidity or misgiving

Great leaders embolden the rest of us to rise to our highest potentialities, to be active, insistent and resolute in affirming our own sense of things.

—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

… being near her twin did seem to embolden her, to loosen her tongue.

—John Updike

… other voices too timid to speak in class are often emboldened by the different and more protected role an online conversation provides.

—Richard A. Lanham

Synonyms of embolden

• inspire
• encourage

Choose the Right Synonym for embolden

encourage, inspirit, hearten, embolden 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

inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.

patriots inspirited the people to resist

hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.

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

Examples of embolden in a Sentence

his poor showing in his first swim meet just emboldened him to train even harder

Recent Examples on the Web

Once the Rockets broke the shame seal and stole away with Olajuwon, the league needed to take drastic measures, because everyone would now feel emboldened to make a mockery of the game. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

While Susie is willing to comply with her father’s wishes, Eddie grows more emboldened, fueled by the power he’s learned to harness. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

Concerns are growing in Asia and within the Pentagon that dwindling stockpiles will embolden China and North Korea. — Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Perhaps that move by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark emboldened Petitti and his presidents and ADs to take on the NFL-back-to-college issue themselves. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for embolden

• beholden
• bolden
• golden
• holden
• olden
• soldan

Kids Definition

embolden

verb

em·​bold·​en im-ˈbōl-dən 

: to make bold