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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome
we're off to an encouraging start on this project
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encouraging
Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The numbers are encouraging, with caveats.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Guerra credited the League of Women Voters with encouraging civility.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Adjective
The early returns have been encouraging.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The numbers are encouraging, with caveats.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
In some places, including North Carolina, unions are encouraging teachers to call off work on May 1.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Guerra credited the League of Women Voters with encouraging civility.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
-
Among them, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are gaining traction as a promising post-Moore pathway, offering atomically thin structures that could enable continued transistor scaling while improving energy efficiency and performance.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Learning to spend significant amounts of money proactively to unlock future growth was one of the essential mindset shifts in taking Scandit from a promising deep tech startup to a global company.—
Samuel Mueller,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The favorite of the bunch was the Cinnamon Caramel offering, which tasted comforting and cozy like fall.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Where their debut roars, jabbing with hooks, Two Wheels Move the Soul instead inverts the noise until the sound becomes pillowy and comforting.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Recent poll results shared at a Tuesday night hearing showed 55% of those in a random sample were favorable to a mill levy override.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The hope is a new administration more favorable to offshore wind will be in place by the time turbines are ready to touch federal waters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Namira lives in East Elmhurst, where several bus stops had recently been removed, disrupting her mother’s commute to Times Square and inspiring her to action.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
People certainly came often when the space belonged to Dexter’s, a happy hour stronghold here in Hannibal Square for ages, inspiring romantic-memory flexes among locals since the space shuttered in 2019.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In response to these discoveries, a two-week training program on Silk Road archaeology has been established, aimed at promoting the protection and transmission of Silk Road cultural heritage, as concluded by The Global Times.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Her Game Too says it is partnered with 80 of the 92 clubs in the English football pyramid, and a handful of clubs held dedicated fixtures promoting its campaign in the Premier League last season.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Christopher Nolan has cemented his status as one of our most consistently original and thought-provoking directors.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In essence, Bright Lights, Big City, instead of being emotionally provoking and riveting, is distressingly gray and tedious, enlivened only by Fox’s gifted histrionics.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Destiny calls loudly as passionate Mars charges into your 9th House of Distance, urging you to attempt things that are literally or metaphorically far from your comfort zone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The leaders of France, Spain and Finland and top European Union leaders all issued statements welcoming the two-week pause in fighting but urging swift negotiations to bring the war to a permanent end.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then, there’s a dramatic landscape by Jacob van Ruisdael, with gray clouds muttering on high and brighter blues impending in the sky below.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The Earth is so bright out there and the moon is just hanging in front of us, this black orb out in front of us.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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