Synonyms of encouraged

encouraged 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in reassured

Related Words

• reassured
• unafraid
• emboldened
• courageous
• brave
• determined
• comforted
• heartened
• undaunted
• fearless
• intrepid
• undeterred
• valiant
• dauntless
• gutsy
• resolute
• heroic
• spirited
• undismayed
• daring
• unflinching
• plucky
• valorous
• stalwart
• adventurous
• bold
• stouthearted
• game
• unswerving
• Spartan
• gallant
• greathearted
• spunky
• adventuresome
• undauntable
• lionhearted
• gritty
• venturesome
• hardy
• foolish
• stout
• venturous
• doughty
• audacious
• gutty
• mad
• mettlesome
• firm
• imprudent
• thoughtless
• reckless
• foolhardy
• dashing
• insane
• impetuous
• brazen
• incautious
• nutty
• impulsive
• overconfident
• rash
• hasty
• hotheaded
• heedless
• crazy
• daredevil
• madcap
• precipitate
• brash
• headlong
• half-witted
• wild
• overbold

Dissimilar Words

• anxious
• timid
• careful
• nervous
• cautious
• afraid
• apprehensive
• shy
• scary
• prudent
• diffident
• skittish
• frightened
• upset
• startled
• terrified
• shocked
• disturbed
• scared
• horrified
• unnerved
• worried
• concerned
• agitated
• panicked
• spooked
• mousy
• perturbed
• heedful
• disquieted
• disconcerted
• unadventurous
• weak
• fearful
• terrorized
• yellow
• timorous
• pusillanimous
• craven
• wimpy
• coward
• cowardly
• panic-stricken
• fainthearted
• spineless
• gutless
• spiritless
• dastardly
• unheroic
• nerveless
• chicken
• ungallant
• uncourageous
• poor-spirited
• weakhearted
• milk-livered
• chickenhearted
• chicken-livered
• lily-livered
• poltroon

2

as in supported

Related Words

• supported
• promoted
• suggested
• endorsed
• approved
• abetted
• licensed
• certified
• permissible
• legitimate
• lawful
• authorized
• legal
• official
• regulation
• legit
• sanctioned
• licit
• canonical
• authoritative
• ex officio
• semiofficial

Dissimilar Words

• unauthorized
• unofficial
• illegal
• unlawful
• impermissible
• illicit
• wrongful
• unsanctioned
• illegitimate
• nonofficial
• unlicensed
• lawless
• unapproved
• verboten

encouraged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of encourage

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

• inspired
• emboldened
• heartened
• reinforced
• stimulated
• cheered (up)
• buoyed (up)
• inspirited
• reassured
• provoked
• enforced
• steeled
• bore up
• assured
• enlivened
• invigorated
• strengthened
• animated
• excited
• chirked (up)
• bucked up
• stirred
• rallied
• energized
• fortified
• galvanized
• quickened
• boosted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraged
• disheartened
• daunted
• depressed
• saddened
• undermined
• weakened
• demoralized
• dispirited
• intimidated
• debilitated
• hamstrung
• enfeebled
• psyched (out)

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

• promoted
• cultivated
• nurtured
• fostered
• forwarded
• advanced
• furthered
• assisted
• nourished
• supported
• advocated
• incubated
• endorsed
• aided
• funded
• championed
• financed
• upheld
• nursed
• backed
• patronized
• subsidized
• abetted
• advertised
• endowed
• staked
• worked (for)
• publicized
• boosted
• underwrote
• touted
• plugged
• agitated (for)
• campaigned (for)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraged
• prohibited
• hindered
• inhibited
• prevented
• frustrated
• opposed
• forbade
• enjoined
• banned
• barred
• proscribed
• fought
• outlawed
• countered
• suppressed
• contended (with)
• checked
• arrested
• stifled
• battled
• repressed
• subdued
• halted
• interdicted
• combated
• retarded
• impeded
• obstructed
• interfered (with)
• squelched
• encumbered
• squashed
• hobbled
• snuffed (out)
• shackled
• fettered
• manacled

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

• provoked
• stimulated
• inspired
• motivated
• stirred
• aroused
• excited
• moved
• incited
• sparked
• induced
• instigated
• drove
• impassioned
• triggered
• piqued
• motived
• fired (up)
• revved (up)
• bothered
• ignited
• angered
• activated
• energized
• galvanized
• fanned
• enraged
• kindled
• animated
• set off
• abetted
• built a fire under
• vitalized
• quickened
• inflamed
• fomented
• upset
• got
• keyed (up)
• annoyed
• taunted
• teased
• whipped (up)
• pumped up
• jeered
• raised
• maddened
• irritated
• fermented
• aggravated
• exasperated
• vexed
• galled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calmed
• subdued
• soothed
• appeased
• placated
• pacified
• mollified
• tranquilized

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

• urged
• nudged
• prompted
• spurred
• pushed
• exhorted
• coaxed
• goaded
• prodded
• propelled
• provoked
• drove
• stimulated
• pressed
• egged (on)
• hurried
• implored
• pressured
• rushed
• hustled
• cajoled
• beseeched
• importuned
• adjured
• incited
• nagged
• instigated
• wheedled
• fomented
• stirred (up)
• needled
• blandished
• soft-soaped
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraged
• deterred
• checked
• dissuaded
• constrained
• restrained
• inhibited
• held back
• curbed
• braked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of encouraged

Adjective

The play of Phillips, Taaffe, Rodriguez and Johnson should have the Dolphins very encouraged. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

In one place, a behavior is permissible or even encouraged, while in another, that same behavior is unacceptable and has negative consequences. — Dr. Monika Sumra, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Individuals with backgrounds in science are especially encouraged to apply. — Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 20 Sep. 2026

Additionally, several people said workers aren’t encouraged to wear ventilators or use other types of protective equipment while operating the saws and breathing in the foam dust. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Anyone returning home is strongly encouraged to remain prepared and make arrangements now to evacuate quickly should conditions worsen or another evacuation order be issued. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

As the long night ended, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald seemed encouraged that Darnold avoided at least one worst-case scenario. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Santa Clara County’s lead attorney said the hearing left him encouraged about the county’s chances of prevailing. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026

That last might be especially true for female human beings who may be more encouraged to have derived an identity based on our role as marital partner or parent. — Gloria Steinem, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time when traveling on State Highway 55. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026

There’s no cost to attend, but a donation for the local food pantry network is encouraged. — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026

Those with general admission tickets are also encouraged to bring portable chairs or blankets, as seating is not provided with those tickets. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

The departmen and encouraged the public to continue submitting legitimate information through its unsolved murders website. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

The pact encouraged investment in railroads, pipelines, electric grids, and border systems that made supply chains more efficient, especially in manufacturing. — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026

Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra told CNN his client remains committed to working with Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation and is encouraged by her appointment. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Many of these culture-creating behaviors have been observed in 2026 Anthropic studies of multi-agent systems this year that encouraged complex collaboration. — Michael Morris, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Former Miami Code Enforcement Board chair Yvonne Bayona, who is president of the Historic East Shenandoah Homeowners Association, encouraged the city to revive a task force on short-term rentals that former commissioner Joe Carollo created. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026