heartens

verb

present tense third-person singular of hearten
as in inspires
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartens
  1. inspires
  2. encourages
Verb
  • That dish inspires Grillbird’s glossy house sauce, sweetened just enough with pineapple juice and ketchup.
    — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The result is a near-perfect partner, who is doting and honest, and drives the villagers mad with envy — and inspires some nefarious actions from the likes of Elizabeth Debicki’s character, the tailor’s wife.
    — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of inspires
Verb
  • The Sagittarius Moon encourages exploration, including the kind that happens through listening.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
  • As a bonus, the electrical stimulation also encourages pathways involved in hair growth.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of encourages
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.

Browse Nearby Words

heartening
heartens
heartfelt
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heartens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartens. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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