Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

encourage

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of encourage

1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose

  • a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms of encourage

bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel
Words Related to encourage

animate, enliven, invigorate

enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

assure, reassure

boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir
Near Antonyms of encourage

demoralize, depress, sadden

debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken

intimidate, psych (out)
Antonyms of encourage

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 of encourage

advance, cultivate, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promote
Words Related to encourage

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 of encourage

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, shackle
Antonyms of encourage

discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

3 to rouse to strong feeling or action

  • the movieʼs cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter
Synonyms of encourage

arouse, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, provoke, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir
Words Related to encourage

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, vex
Phrases Synonymous with encourage

build a fire under
Near Antonyms of encourage

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 of encourage

egg (on), exhort, goad, nudge, press, prod, prompt, urge
Words Related to encourage

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 of encourage

deter, discourage, dissuade

brake, check, constrain, curb, hold back, inhibit, restrain

Synonym Discussion of encourage

encourage, inspirit, hearten, embolden mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.
    • the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts
inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.
    • patriots inspirited the people to resist
hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.
    • a hospital patient heartened by good news
embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.
    • emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

Learn More about encourage

  1. See words that rhyme with encourage Dictionary: Definition of encourage Spanish Central: Translation of encourage Nglish: Translation of encourage for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of encourage for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up encourage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

vitiate

to make faulty or ineffective

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games