Synonyms of hearten

hearten

verb

ˈhär-tᵊn 

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose

thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inspire
• encourage
• embolden
• inspirit
• reinforce
• bear up
• buoy (up)
• steel
• cheer (up)
• invigorate
• stimulate
• reassure
• enliven
• provoke
• animate
• reenforce
• assure
• strengthen
• chirk (up)
• buck up
• enforce
• energize
• excite
• galvanize
• fortify
• stir
• rally
• quicken
• boost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourage
• dishearten
• daunt
• depress
• undermine
• demoralize
• sadden
• weaken
• dispirit
• debilitate
• intimidate
• hamstring
• enfeeble
• psych (out)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hearten differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of hearten are embolden, encourage, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

When can embolden be used instead of hearten?

While in some cases nearly identical to hearten, embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.

emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

When might encourage be a better fit than hearten?

Although the words encourage and hearten have much in common, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.

the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

When could inspirit be used to replace hearten?

The words inspirit and hearten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.

patriots inspirited the people to resist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hearten

Kershaw said he was heartened, at least, that his issue was a lack of command. —Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 May 2025

But he’s also been heartened by the public’s love for the installation. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025

Are there factions that are maybe more heartened by the elevation of this pope than others? —Sean Collins, Vox, 9 May 2025

Chicago Tribune Cochran was also heartened by the new pope’s choice of his papal name, which evokes the memory of Leo the Great, a fifth-century pope who convinced Attila the Hun not to attack Italy. —Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025