1
as in inspired
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 promoted
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 provoked
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 urged
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
1
as in reassured
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in supported
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encouraged
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Her people feel encouraged but underutilized.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
These reforms were strongly encouraged, if not outright demanded, by the United States.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Not only is zipper merging legal in some states, but also highly encouraged in them.
—Ahmed Jawadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Verbal jabs, the more eloquent and vulgar the better, are highly encouraged.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
CEOs at Google, Microsoft, and Shopify have mandated or strongly encouraged using AI, especially for engineering teams.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
In keeping with Gunna’s philanthropic vision, participants are also encouraged to make donations supporting the charitable cause of their choice.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Aug. 2025
Women are encouraged to 'marry up' or at least seek a partner who matches their ambition, while men are not socialized to do the same.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
That’s just fine with new Phantoms coach John Snowden, who was encouraged by Bonk’s Day 1 performance at rookie camp on Thursday.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
These plants sell out quickly, so preordering is encouraged beginning in August of this year.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
For Sunday, fans are encouraged to dress in all white.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Anyone with information is encouraged to call 513-321-2677.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Sep. 2025
Chris Duarte, Hendersonville High School Chris has encouraged an AP-level freshman class to participate in school activities like Model UN.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Furthermore, there were precious few flashes between those losses that gave reason to feel encouraged about the 21-year-old’s chances against one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Her people feel encouraged but underutilized.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
These reforms were strongly encouraged, if not outright demanded, by the United States.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Not only is zipper merging legal in some states, but also highly encouraged in them.
—Ahmed Jawadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Verbal jabs, the more eloquent and vulgar the better, are highly encouraged.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
CEOs at Google, Microsoft, and Shopify have mandated or strongly encouraged using AI, especially for engineering teams.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
In keeping with Gunna’s philanthropic vision, participants are also encouraged to make donations supporting the charitable cause of their choice.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Aug. 2025
Women are encouraged to 'marry up' or at least seek a partner who matches their ambition, while men are not socialized to do the same.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
That’s just fine with new Phantoms coach John Snowden, who was encouraged by Bonk’s Day 1 performance at rookie camp on Thursday.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
These plants sell out quickly, so preordering is encouraged beginning in August of this year.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
For Sunday, fans are encouraged to dress in all white.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Anyone with information is encouraged to call 513-321-2677.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Sep. 2025
Chris Duarte, Hendersonville High School Chris has encouraged an AP-level freshman class to participate in school activities like Model UN.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraged
Verb
-
The furniture, objects, and art left me feeling culturally satisfied and inspired to finally finish furnishing my apartment.—
Libby Page,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Gaudí’s structure is a head-spinning mixture of morphing geometrical forms, many inspired by nature.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That bout was promoted as his return to the ring after a 19-year retirement and was widely regarded as a fitting sendoff.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The past few weeks have seen the departures of Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim, plus the splitting up of Please Don’t Destroy as Ben Marshall was promoted to main cast, Martin Herlihy moved to writing staff and John Higgins left the show.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In practice, that could mean a withdrawal of political cover for Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza, which has provoked outrage among European and Arab nations as famine conditions spread.—
Gram Slattery,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The moves provoked legal challenges over First Amendment rights.—
Dan Gooding
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
China urged the United States on Friday to address their dispute through dialogue.—
AFP,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Authorities have not yet revealed the full details of how Robinson was detained, but multiple reports suggested that his father urged him to surrender after recognizing his son in the grainy surveillance footage released by police.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s where Spinal Tap cultivated its generations of followers.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
-
America cultivated India both as a counterweight to China and in recognition of the country’s growing economic heft.—
Vaibhav Vats,
The Atlantic,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But dogs still need ways to burn off energy and stay mentally stimulated.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For example, one study found that breast cancer cell growth was stimulated by low concentrations of genistein and inhibited by higher concentrations.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Student tickets nudged down, too, from 8,013 to 7,823.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As the distinct doors open one after another into hospital rooms, school auditoriums, neighborhood diners and childhood homes, both Sarah and David get offered a chance to smooth out former wrinkles and become the kind of people unafraid to commit to new relationships.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Charles’s actions then were interpreted, probably correctly, as a rebuke to Trump for his ungracious treatment of his guest, and also reminded international onlookers that the king remains the most political of monarchs, unafraid to make his favor—or displeasure—known.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encouraged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraged. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share