as in encouraging
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
his poor showing in his first swim meet just emboldened him to train even harder
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Recent Examples of emboldening
The city’s failure to investigate or correct the conduct has only resulted in emboldening it, the suit said.
—
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a violent crackdown.
—Julia Nikhinson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within security services to launch a violent crackdown.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
This is thanks to Venus and Mars working together in your sensible 6th house, emboldening you to streamline routines and add creative flair to useful habits.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
But experts worry this audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of international norms, emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
But those tactics seem to have backfired, emboldening those who were skeptical of the new map proposal.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
His condemnation of some immigrants and any new ban on immigration could throw into disarray the lives of innumerable potential migrants and their families while emboldening and encouraging his admirers, both at home and those in other Western countries pushing for similar policies.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The 49ers outlasted the Rams in overtime in a Week 6 Thursday night affair, Mac Jones had resumed starter duties and has made every start since, emboldening Shanahan and the 49ers’ confidence weekly while Purdy’s health recovers.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a violent crackdown.
—Julia Nikhinson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within security services to launch a violent crackdown.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
This is thanks to Venus and Mars working together in your sensible 6th house, emboldening you to streamline routines and add creative flair to useful habits.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
But experts worry this audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of international norms, emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
But those tactics seem to have backfired, emboldening those who were skeptical of the new map proposal.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
His condemnation of some immigrants and any new ban on immigration could throw into disarray the lives of innumerable potential migrants and their families while emboldening and encouraging his admirers, both at home and those in other Western countries pushing for similar policies.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The 49ers outlasted the Rams in overtime in a Week 6 Thursday night affair, Mac Jones had resumed starter duties and has made every start since, emboldening Shanahan and the 49ers’ confidence weekly while Purdy’s health recovers.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emboldening
Verb
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Setting kind, consistent boundaries and encouraging independence helps kids develop important life skills and emotional regulation.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Clever Mercury in your sign trines lucky Jupiter in your 5th House of Delight, giving your words a playful glow and encouraging authentic self-expression.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Namira lives in East Elmhurst, where several bus stops had recently been removed, disrupting her mother’s commute to Times Square and inspiring her to action.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
People certainly came often when the space belonged to Dexter’s, a happy hour stronghold here in Hannibal Square for ages, inspiring romantic-memory flexes among locals since the space shuttered in 2019.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Emboldening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emboldening. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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