Synonyms of encouragement

encouragement

noun

in-ˈkər-ij-mənt 

as in incentive

something that arouses action or activity

the huge rebates that the auto companies were offering were all the encouragement I needed to buy a new car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• incentive
• impetus
• motivation
• stimulus
• momentum
• spur
• boost
• impulse
• provocation
• catalyst
• instigation
• stimulant
• fuel
• reason
• yeast
• goad
• incitement
• invitation
• consideration
• shot in the arm
• inducement
• incitation
• cause
• motive
• spark
• occasion
• grounds
• antecedent
• catalyzer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disincentive
• counterincentive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of encouragement

Viola, a Shorewood resident, entered the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s monthly photo contest with his wife’s encouragement and was named the September winner. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026

Its restrictions cover suicide and self-harm promotion, eating disorder encouragement, body shaming, non-consensual intimate imagery, harassment, and animal cruelty. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026

The comments are all universally positive and supportive, with followers offering prayers and words of encouragement , including former athletes such as Troy Aikman, Kenny Lofton and Teemu Selane. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

An introduction, an assignment or a recommendation can make your encouragement tangible. — Bala Sathyanarayanan, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026