nurture

1 to help the growth or development of wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent Synonyms advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, foster, promoteRelated Words 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 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 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 edify, educate, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, enlightenRelated Words elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift; better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform; exalt, glorify, transfigureNear Antonyms confuse, perplex, puzzle; becloud, cloud, darken, obscure

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