encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.
the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts
inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.
patriots inspirited the people to resist
hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.
a hospital patient heartened by good news
embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.
emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb
Examples of hearten in a Sentence
The team's victory has heartened its fans.
thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse
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Ruhlin said she was heartened to see some of the recommendations, notably those pushing for more transparency, instituted shortly after the report was submitted, and Jonsen has voiced broad agreement with the report findings.—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 Still, the current legislative progress in California has to be heartening for the Stop Killing Games movement, which has seen its momentum in the UK stall a bit after a UK Parliament debate on game preservation last November.—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026 Wilde was heartened that most studios were offering theatrical releases, and ultimately chose A24.—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 Again, something that should hearten the bulls.—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hearten