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

Advertisement The trends in the report are heartening for Americans’ health, and, not for nothing, good news too for the marketers who supply the balls, helmets, paddles, and bats that keep us out on the greens, courts, tracks, and fields. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2025

Schlep concedes to being relatively powerless, but says he’s been heartened by the online community’s response to his banning. —Steven Asarch, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025

At any rate, being able to planet hunt in such close (in cosmic terms) proximity is heartening to scientists. —David Szondy august 14, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2025

Their answers are actually heartening. —Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025