1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
encouraging signs that the economy is improving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comforting
making one feel good inside
the encouraging story of a young girl who overcame great social and physical obstacles to become an outstanding athlete
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3
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome
we're off to an encouraging start on this project
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in inspiring
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
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2
as in promoting
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
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3
as in provoking
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urging
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encouraging
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2026
The Twins have seen some encouraging signs since then, with Wallner collecting a pair of hits in two of his first three games after that break.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The vibes took a noticeable turn once Mercury entered sensual Taurus on May 2, encouraging us to communicate with more intention and consistency.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Adjective
The challenge, of course, is that Fox is the source of the encouraging data about how ads perform on Fox.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2026
The Twins have seen some encouraging signs since then, with Wallner collecting a pair of hits in two of his first three games after that break.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Verb
Chula Vista is encouraging thoughtful development, increasing housing options and streamlining processes where possible.
—John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The vibes took a noticeable turn once Mercury entered sensual Taurus on May 2, encouraging us to communicate with more intention and consistency.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
-
His breakout has been among the most promising signs for the Twins.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
-
Again, one expected of an assured athlete anticipating a promising NBA career.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
For Chamberlain, paintings—and paint itself—are nostalgic and comforting.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
4 May 2026
-
The food was exactly the same—the menu is a fresh and creative take on regional flavors, yet still approachable and comforting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
If a member school’s athletic department desperately needs a line of credit, the university can arrange a more favorable one.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
Surfers competed in the finals of their respective classes, again in less-than-favorable conditions.—
Tony Le Calvez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition to inspiring TNT, the MGM deal gave Turner a few other ideas.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
That feeling of being seen and understood stayed with her, ultimately inspiring Henson to commit to a career as a nurse and to offer the same reassurance to her own patients.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In Church’s day, that separation depended on promoting a robust idea of American innocence over Europe’s enfeebling corruption.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
There is a broader issue of manufacturers selling dangerous products and promoting them with deceptive advertising to lure youth into using their dangerous, ineffective products.—
Jad Abdel Nour,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Through the band members’ stories, Méndez guides readers expertly through a historical landscape that may be unfamiliar to them and examines thought-provoking ideas about art and protest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
As this unseasonable heat returns, the National Weather Service is urging residents in South Florida to take necessary precautions to avoid heat illnesses and heat exhaustion.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
Lydon, who served as a Peruvian missionary with the pope during the 1990s, recalled his friend collecting signatures on petitions urging an end to human rights violations under an authoritarian regime.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The food is rustic and cosmopolitan at once — bright, monumental salads, whole carrots and leeks baptized by fire, skeins of pasta, and Parmigiano snowing down — but the secret is the seeming effortlessness.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Eventually, Delta switched the shuttle to one of the main terminals, and in 2021 Spirit moved into the Marine Air Terminal, bringing its bright-yellow livery and ultra-discount business model with it.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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