Synonyms of rewarding

rewarding 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈwȯr-diŋ 

as in comforting

making one feel good inside

pursued a rewarding career providing medical care to poor children in rural areas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• comforting
• encouraging
• fulfilling
• satisfying
• gratifying
• loving
• warm
• welcoming
• inspiring
• heartening
• heartwarming
• gladdening
• cheering
• pleasing
• exciting
• moving
• uplifting
• touching
• affecting
• edifying
• poignant
• kind
• sympathetic
• exhilarating
• elevating
• thrilling
• stimulating
• inspiriting
• stirring
• pleasurable
• invigorating
• animating
• rousing
• kindly
• enlivening
• tender

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraging
• demoralizing
• depressing
• disheartening
• dispiriting
• disappointing
• dissatisfying
• saddening
• displeasing
• heartbreaking
• cheerless
• disturbing
• disconcerting
• distressing
• upsetting
• discomforting
• heartrending
• unpleasant
• dismaying
• cold
• disgruntling
• unkind
• unfriendly
• unloving
• unfeeling

rewarding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of reward

as in honoring

to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement

the firefighters were rewarded by the city for their heroic actions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honoring
• awarding
• commending
• praising
• remembering
• hailing
• decorating
• compensating
• citing
• reimbursing
• applauding
• complimenting
• paying
• repaying
• saluting
• recompensing
• requiting
• acclaiming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rewarding

Adjective

Many entrepreneurs spend years building businesses that provide a good income, support their families, and create rewarding careers. — Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

College sports may be more complicated than ever, but schools cannot credibly demand respect for NCAA rules while simultaneously rewarding athletes who sue to avoid them. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 July 2026

Verb

The university prioritizes students demonstrating strong interdisciplinary interests, rewarding those who can connect two distinct fields. — Jamie Beaton, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Now’s the time for the Party to think about it—potential pairings have a little time to court one another—and to start talking themselves into the idea that this could be rewarding and even kind of fun. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026