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 hearten in a Sentence
The team's victory has heartened its fans.
thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse
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His talent, charisma, good humor and calmness in the face of what at times was nothing less than a maniacal roller coaster ride often brought a sense of peace that heartened everyone around him.—Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025 Every politician and public figure should be trying to turn down the temperature in this moment, and it's been heartening to see officials on both sides of the aisle condemn the attack on Kirk.—Peter Aitken
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Eschmeyer said that she’s been heartened by MAHA’s momentum.—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2025 Many launched emergency fund drives and are heartened by the response.—David Bauder, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hearten
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