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
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
That has changed, emboldening progressive candidates.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Democrats have fostered an environment of evil, emboldening radicals to kill, steal, and destroy.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
Former staffers from both CMS and the inspector general’s office said that the lack of consequences for EMTALA violations may be emboldening hospitals to turn away patients that could hurt their bottom line.
—Eli Cahan, ProPublica, 23 Sep. 2025
The current cashless bail policies are failing victims, emboldening repeat offenders, and undermining the trust people place in our justice system.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Abbas’ allies and rivals have hounded him for years about the need to appoint a deputy and to begin planning for a stable transition, but Abbas, who is 81 years old and fears emboldening his challengers, has long refused to do so.
—Grant Rumley, Foreign Affairs, 9 Mar. 2017
Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
That has changed, emboldening progressive candidates.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Democrats have fostered an environment of evil, emboldening radicals to kill, steal, and destroy.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
Former staffers from both CMS and the inspector general’s office said that the lack of consequences for EMTALA violations may be emboldening hospitals to turn away patients that could hurt their bottom line.
—Eli Cahan, ProPublica, 23 Sep. 2025
The current cashless bail policies are failing victims, emboldening repeat offenders, and undermining the trust people place in our justice system.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Abbas’ allies and rivals have hounded him for years about the need to appoint a deputy and to begin planning for a stable transition, but Abbas, who is 81 years old and fears emboldening his challengers, has long refused to do so.
—Grant Rumley, Foreign Affairs, 9 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emboldening
Verb
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In low, incantatory voices, the lamas were reading from The Tibetan Book of the Dead, encouraging my grandmother to move forward without fear in the bardo between death and rebirth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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But rather than responding with anger, the university’s president, Astrid Tuminez, is encouraging dialogue.—
Steven P. Dinkin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Antarctica is one of the most awe-inspiring places on the planet, and an expedition cruise is a fantastic way to experience it.—
Ashton Palmer,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
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But every year there’s a different theme inspiring the fantasy football teams.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Emboldening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emboldening. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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