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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The bill contains provisions encouraging local and state governments to build more housing.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Mar. 2026
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There is a lot of change happening on the home front, encouraging you to remodel parts of your dwelling.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Best of all are terrace bathtubs crafted from rocks or hinoki cypress wood, filled with hot spring onsen water—plus haiku-inspiring valley views.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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In just one week, a spectacular display of orbital mechanics will be visible to billions of people across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as Earth's shadow sweeps across the lunar disk, triggering the onset of an awe-inspiring 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Emboldening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emboldening. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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