Synonyms of embolden

embolden

verb

im-ˈbōl-dən 

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inspire
• encourage
• hearten
• reinforce
• inspirit
• bear up
• buoy (up)
• invigorate
• stimulate
• steel
• cheer (up)
• enliven
• provoke
• reassure
• strengthen
• enforce
• animate
• buck up
• chirk (up)
• energize
• assure
• excite
• galvanize
• fortify
• stir
• rally
• quicken
• boost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourage
• daunt
• dishearten
• undermine
• depress
• weaken
• demoralize
• sadden
• dispirit
• intimidate
• debilitate
• enfeeble
• hamstring
• psych (out)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb embolden differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of embolden are encourage, hearten, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.

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

When might encourage be a better fit than embolden?

While the synonyms encourage and embolden are close in meaning, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.

the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

When could hearten be used to replace embolden?

Although the words hearten and embolden have much in common, hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

When is inspirit a more appropriate choice than embolden?

The words inspirit and embolden are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.

patriots inspirited the people to resist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of embolden

Back-to-back championships by the Dodgers could embolden MLB and add to a chorus of fans who see a cap as a panacea for the plague of big-money teams monopolizing championships over the past decade. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

As a result, African post-coup governments are staying in power longer, which in turn emboldens coup plotters elsewhere who see a more permissive environment. —John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025

Pakistan has faced a surge in Islamist violence since the Taliban swept Kabul in 2021, emboldening militant groups. —Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025

The rise in debt-collection complaints also suggests debt collectors may feel emboldened, some consumer advocates say, by a presidential administration that has gutted the federal government’s consumer watchdog effort. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025