1
as in to inspire
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to promote
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to urge
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encourage
Wallace hopes Huston-Tillotson doesn’t carry the rank for long, and encourages other philanthropists to follow the Moodys.
—
CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Doing something like this single small act meant children could go to school instead of working in the fields, parents were encouraged to send them because of the free meal, and suddenly education and opportunity would open up.
—Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The move is intended to help businesses grow by reducing the cost of borrowing and encourage consumer spending.
—Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Ted was ushered into a new era of his life after his friends encouraged him to quit being an architect and accept the offer to be a professor at Columbia University.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encourage
CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Doing something like this single small act meant children could go to school instead of working in the fields, parents were encouraged to send them because of the free meal, and suddenly education and opportunity would open up.
—Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The move is intended to help businesses grow by reducing the cost of borrowing and encourage consumer spending.
—Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Ted was ushered into a new era of his life after his friends encouraged him to quit being an architect and accept the offer to be a professor at Columbia University.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourage
Verb
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With the goal of being a resource for both emerging and established creative talent, the 2,000 square-foot space will soon introduce educational initiatives and mentorship opportunities led by filmmakers hoping to inspire the next generation of storytellers.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
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The long-running series has inspired an anime television series, podcasts and fan sites.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rising pressure on Nvidia Huawei’s announcement comes as China promotes homegrown alternatives to Nvidia.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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The turn of the century saw the advent of rhizobial soil inoculants for improving legume growth, with the FDA promoting such applications.—
Anna Marija Helt,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gutman's comment have provoked backlash on social media, with some calling for him to be fired from his role.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Prolonged isolation in detention can provoke psychological symptoms, including paranoia, PTSD and depression, that can lead to suicide, Peeler said.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to San Diego’s Acting Chief Innovation Officer Alexander Hempton, Mayor Gloria is urging his team to use this moment of financial strain as an opportunity to propose new ideas and work in new ways without sacrificing effectiveness.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
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Their family had accused the Taliban of mistreating the couple, and urged the government to explain why they had been detained.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Today, the best marketing leaders have to cultivate technical expertise and storytelling skills, as well as deep psychological awareness.—
Barbara Puszkiewicz-Cimino,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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And while stronger loyalty and business results will naturally follow, the true reward lies in cultivating those relationships.—
Geoff Robins,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, playful responsiveness stimulates the vagus nerve, a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system linked to relaxation and safety.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Salmon Salmon is rich in omega-3 and vitamin D, and helps to stimulate collagen production within the skin.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
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Sure, word warfare can nudge us on some issues – like yea or nay on a state infrastructure initiative or a county sales tax or a school district bond.—
Sarah Stein Lubrano,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead, focus on fostering a culture of inclusivity, empathy and genuine connection.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Brian Pedro, director for the Department of Community Response, framed the fees as a way to foster self-independence, help offset operating costs and create a sustainable housing model.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourage. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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