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
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Recent Examples of encourage
Pakistan abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution this week that would have encouraged countries to coordinate their defensive efforts in order to reopen the strait.
—
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, but pets and coolers are prohibited.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
In some places, including North Carolina, unions are encouraging teachers to call off work on May 1.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Myeroff encouraged Griffin to start posting on TikTok During a June 2025 interview on The Smylie Show podcast, Griffin explained how his wife inspired him to start sharing more about the life of a PGA Tour player on TikTok.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, but pets and coolers are prohibited.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
In some places, including North Carolina, unions are encouraging teachers to call off work on May 1.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Myeroff encouraged Griffin to start posting on TikTok During a June 2025 interview on The Smylie Show podcast, Griffin explained how his wife inspired him to start sharing more about the life of a PGA Tour player on TikTok.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourage
Verb
-
McDonald's teamed up with Netflix to launch two limited-time meals inspired by the film’s rival K-pop groups, HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys — complete with collectible photocards and exclusive digital content.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Namira lives in East Elmhurst, where several bus stops had recently been removed, disrupting her mother’s commute to Times Square and inspiring her to action.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This will help promote housing stability and economic mobility.—
Chase Jordan
April 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In addition, the peptide seems to promote angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, possibly via a signalling molecule expressed in many human cancers.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Christopher Nolan has cemented his status as one of our most consistently original and thought-provoking directors.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But traumatic episodes like the Notre-Dame fire generally provoke returns to the safe and familiar, not experimentation.—
David A. Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In recent weeks, a growing number of business leaders in Russia have voiced concern about the sweeping restrictions and urged authorities to take a more moderate approach.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Destiny calls loudly as passionate Mars charges into your 9th House of Distance, urging you to attempt things that are literally or metaphorically far from your comfort zone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every announcement, social media post or media placement is an opportunity to reinforce the brand’s purpose, cultivate trust and invite engagement.—
Terri Liebler,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
-
While some of the trees that produce the resin are cultivated, the vast majority grow in the wild.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Other options, such as red light therapy caps, are non-invasive devices that use low-level light therapy to stimulate hair follicles and increase density.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Lightly massaging the area of application may further help relax muscles and stimulate circulation.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s like a flower scrupulously nudging out from between sidewalk slabs, a breath of fresh air.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In combined bites, the salty ingredients season the fresh ones, and the textures are varied enough to gently nudge the brain awake.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the confrontation, Hussein and his followers were massacred, but the imam’s quest for justice became a defining value of Shiite identity, fostering a sense of revolutionary duty to fight oppressors at any cost.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
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Through a blend of archival recordings and contemporary interviews, the series illustrates how the church became a sanctuary for its community, honoring both their faith and queerness while fostering joy and connection during a time of profound grief.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourage. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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