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

Team members are then encouraged to make suggestions for supporting each other. — Doreen Samelson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Critics argued that safety practices like these only encouraged drug use and sent out the wrong message at a time when we were meant to be moving to a drug-free world. — Literary Hub, 29 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

Verb

Students avoided asking questions that could be considered controversial, and teachers no longer encouraged open discussion. — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Patients should be encouraged to ask who manufactured the product, why it is being recommended, whether FDA has evaluated it and how to report an adverse reaction. — Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026

But interfaith leaders and researchers are encouraged by better policing and prosecution as well as the recent appointment of a government envoy to the Christian world, who is Greek Orthodox. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Washington has long encouraged its allies in the Middle East to work together. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

District officials encouraged parents who believe their child might have been treated inappropriately by this or another employee to call the district’s Office of Professional Standards at 817-814-1880. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026

Our Argentinian guides all encouraged us to wear shoulder pads so we didn’t get worn out with soreness early in the week. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026

Crystal Sosa said her husband encouraged her to take on the challenge. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

But the company has also leaned into card games as a part of its experiences, with Lorcana starter packs available inside hotel gift shops, and with games encouraged in the lobby when families get back from the theme park. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026