encouraging 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈkər-i-jiŋ How to pronounce encouraging (audio)
Definition of encouragingnext
1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope encouraging signs that the economy is improving

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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

encouraging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of encourage
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encouraging
Adjective
The deal has been delivering encouraging results, according to Peters. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026 Mitchell worries that rewarding models for thinking of themselves as having identities during fine-tuning could strengthen those earlier associations, potentially encouraging behavior that developers never intended. — Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Loretta Sanchez, a former Democratic congresswoman from Orange County who credits Becerra with encouraging her to run for Congress, put it simply. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Bono served as a mentor during the making of MARTY, encouraging Garrix to develop his voice and perform with greater vulnerability. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
  1. promising
  2. comforting
  3. favorable
  4. inspiring
  5. promoting
  6. provoking
  7. urging
  8. bright
Adjective
  • Roche unveiled strong data from divarasib in non-small cell lung cancer, and Incyte showed promising results from INCB161734 in pancreatic cancer.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 27 Oct. 2026
  • One Mithril program reached promising results in mice within 18 months.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of promising
Adjective
  • The meals here strike a strong balance between comforting and elevated, and all ingredients are locally sourced.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In a city where change is constant — especially in the food and beverage scene — Charlotte’s classic restaurants are among the most beloved places to gather with family and friends or stop in for a comforting bite to eat.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of comforting
Adjective
  • The district was widely viewed as more favorable to Republicans following redistricting, but Singer expressed confidence that his support extends beyond GOP voters.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Having an audience will yield a favorable or adverse outcome, and that outcome hinges largely on one’s ability to impress, or at least satisfy, those who sit in judgment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorable
Verb
  • Their advocacy resulted in Eric’s ID Law in Maryland and is now inspiring similar bills elsewhere.
    — Jermaine F. Williams, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Take a tour of Endeavour’s new home at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which features an awe-inspiring elevator ride, 115-foot slide and dozens of fun and educational exhibits.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of inspiring
Verb
  • The canals will act as stormwater infrastructure for the island while promoting recreational activity, according to that document.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
  • An organization with Republican ties has distributed fliers promoting a socialist candidate, an apparent effort to pull support away from Brown.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of promoting
Verb
  • The best of these films are simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking and dazzling.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Organizers sought to distance themselves from potential unrest, urging participants to keep their faces uncovered and hands visible.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • With these factors in mind, public health authorities are urging the public to take measures now to protect themselves and others.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of urging
Adjective
  • An exuberant pre-dawn sky — filled with large, bright stars, a luminous crescent moon, and blue and white swirls — dominates the landscape featuring a prominent cypress tree and distant hillside village.
    — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But the only picture mode that comes close to being that bright also has a notably green bias and ramps up the fan noise to a level that almost anyone will consider intolerable.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of bright

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encouraging
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Cite this Entry

“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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