encourage

1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win Synonyms bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel Related Words animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir Near Antonyms demoralize, depress, sadden; debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken; intimidate, psych (out) Antonyms daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

2 to help the growth or development of asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations Synonyms advance, cultivate, foster, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promoteRelated Words advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold; endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite; abet, aid, assist; advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout; agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)Near Antonyms ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe; battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose; repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, halt, retard; encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackleAntonyms discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

3 to rouse to strong feeling or action the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter Synonyms arouse, provoke, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stirRelated Words fan, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, trigger; activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize; abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up); anger, enrage, madden, upset; jeer, taunt, tease; aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vexNear Antonyms calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize (also tranquillize); appease, mollify, pacify, placate

4 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage Synonyms egg (on), urge, exhort, goad, nudge, press, prod, promptRelated Words drive, propel, spur, stimulate; hurry, hustle, push, rush; adjure, beseech, implore, importune; blandish, cajole, coax, soft-soap, wheedle; high-pressure, nag, needle, pressure; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir (up)Near Antonyms deter, discourage, dissuade; brake, check, constrain, curb, hold back, inhibit, restrain