1
as in to inspire
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to promote
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to urge
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of encourage
The return of blue-book exams might disadvantage students who were encouraged to master typing at a young age.
—
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Rather, retrogrades should be viewed from the perspective that their energy is encouraging us to reflect, reconnect and review parts of our own lives.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 29 June 2025
The 1200-square-foot space fits a maximum of 20 customers, so reservations are encouraged, especially at first.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2025
These plays still aren’t consistent from Ivey, but look for the Pistons to put him in more pick-and-roll situations to encourage more growth in that department.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Rather, retrogrades should be viewed from the perspective that their energy is encouraging us to reflect, reconnect and review parts of our own lives.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 29 June 2025
The 1200-square-foot space fits a maximum of 20 customers, so reservations are encouraged, especially at first.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2025
These plays still aren’t consistent from Ivey, but look for the Pistons to put him in more pick-and-roll situations to encourage more growth in that department.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourage
Verb
-
Glad My Mom Died, a dramedy inspired by Jennette McCurdy’s bestselling memoir of the same name with Jennifer Aniston set to star and executive produce.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
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America is not used to having a local guy as the driving force of an institution with four times as much history and an even greater capacity to inspire fear and awe.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Trump promoted tax cuts and border security among the provisions to support in the legislation.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
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In addition to adding decorative flair to windows and doors, these multipurpose window treatments promote privacy and block light, with many designs offering temperature-regulating and sound-dampening qualities to boot.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Run adversarial simulations, employ red teams, and commission third-party evaluations that deliberately try to provoke harmful behaviors.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Don't run away or climb a tree, which may provoke a chase.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to support ongoing U.S. investments in foreign assistance.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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While no human cases have been reported, the city is fogging affected areas and urging residents to take precautions.—
Marina Johnson,
The Courier-Journal,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Ultimately, cultivating new talent, rather than trying to outbid the likes of Meta, may prove a more sustainable path for OpenAI in its quest to stay highly mission-oriented while supporting an industry grappling with a scarcity of top-tier talent.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
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Lamont has cultivated an image as an affable aristocrat while spending about $60 million of his fortune on his four bids for statewide office.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2025
Verb
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In fact, scientists say today's children are exposed to far fewer antigens—the components that stimulate immune responses—than their grandparents were, despite receiving more immunizations overall.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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The Cancer new moon stimulates your visionary capacities.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
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The staff also nudged them to members of O’Hara’s social and artistic world, including the artist Nell Blaine and the poet Kenneth Koch.—
Brian Schaefer
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
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Meanwhile, condos nudged down the average with a value drop of less than 1% countywide.—
Douglas Hanks
July 5,
Miami Herald,
5 July 2025
Verb
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By taking these steps, your recommendation will effectively showcase your nephew's potential while upholding the integrity of the hiring process and fostering workplace harmony.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
8 July 2025
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But what’s needed is a place to truly foster and nurture those connections.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourage. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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