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 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 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

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

WORD OF THE DAY

acquisitive

having a desire to acquire more things