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

In an industry where emerging brands are routinely encouraged to expand their ranges, chase followers and pursue wholesale scale, 209 Mare has largely travelled in the opposite direction. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Fortunately, those activities are not technically required, just encouraged. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Reservations are highly encouraged, as spots fill up quickly. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Residents are also encouraged to avoid alcoholic drinks, those with caffeine, or lots of sugar to prevent dehydration. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Officials also stressed the value of satellite emergency communication devices and encouraged hikers to carry one when possible. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026

Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 20 June 2026

Mexico will be very encouraged from its opening day win against South Africa, looking dominant in the 2-0 win. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 June 2026

The emphasis on winning to keep kids signed up and continue making money has stomped creativity out of American players, who are encouraged to play safely to ensure results instead of developing a players’ feel for the game. — Andy Yamashita, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026

Verb

More than 48 hours later, the team hasn’t released any MRI results and Bader has declined to provide public comments, despite being encouraged by the club to talk to reporters or make a statement. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Cruz and Bardem have always encouraged their children’s creative pursuits. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Despite Shai saying that Ava and Rowan encouraged him to tell Hudson about Ariana and Liam, Ava clarifies that that never happened. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 30 July 2026

The network’s legal team warned that any FCC sanction over DEI would raise due process concerns, as the policies being challenged were encouraged by the FCC two years ago, when Joe Biden was president and Democrats held a majority on the commission. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 July 2026

Browning and Eveland developed the educational curriculum that would provide both an understanding and hands-on experience in a friendly environment where questions are encouraged. — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026

Things slowly improved as drummers were encouraged at Arrowhead, but even a big turnout of 20,000 fans looked tiny in a stadium that could seat four times that number. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026

Crump and the family thanked the community for its support and encouraged people to continue to speak out against police brutality. — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 24 July 2026

During the pandemic boom, cheap money, soaring asset prices, and speculative demand encouraged galleries to expand rapidly—adding artists, opening new locations and building ever larger organizations. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026