nurture

1 to help the growth or development of wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent Synonyms of nurture advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, foster, promoteWords Related to nurture advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold; endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite; abet, aid, assist; advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout; agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)Near Antonyms of nurture ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe; battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose; repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, halt, retard; encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackleAntonyms of nurture discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

2 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding she feels that her lifelong practice of reading the Bible daily has nurtured her in ways she cannot describe Synonyms of nurture edify, educate, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, enlightenWords Related to nurture elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift; better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform; exalt, glorify, transfigureNear Antonyms of nurture confuse, perplex, puzzle; becloud, cloud, darken, obscure

3 to supply with nourishment nurtured her children through the long winters with home-cooked soup Synonyms of nurture nourish, sustainWords Related to nurture sate, satiate, satisfy; nurse, suckle; cloy, fill, surfeit; fortify, replenish, strengthen; feed; board, cater, provision, victual