1
as in inspired
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 promoted
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 provoked
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 urged
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reassured
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in supported
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of encouraged
Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Furthermore, there were precious few flashes between those losses that gave reason to feel encouraged about the 21-year-old’s chances against one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Her people feel encouraged but underutilized.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
These reforms were strongly encouraged, if not outright demanded, by the United States.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Verbal jabs, the more eloquent and vulgar the better, are highly encouraged.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
CEOs at Google, Microsoft, and Shopify have mandated or strongly encouraged using AI, especially for engineering teams.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
In keeping with Gunna’s philanthropic vision, participants are also encouraged to make donations supporting the charitable cause of their choice.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Aug. 2025
Women are encouraged to 'marry up' or at least seek a partner who matches their ambition, while men are not socialized to do the same.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Her videos have generated an overwhelmingly positive response and she's been encouraged to keep spreading the word.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Guests are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to security or personnel.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
That’s just fine with new Phantoms coach John Snowden, who was encouraged by Bonk’s Day 1 performance at rookie camp on Thursday.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
These plants sell out quickly, so preordering is encouraged beginning in August of this year.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
For Sunday, fans are encouraged to dress in all white.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
Dancing is optional, but very much encouraged.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Furthermore, there were precious few flashes between those losses that gave reason to feel encouraged about the 21-year-old’s chances against one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Her people feel encouraged but underutilized.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
These reforms were strongly encouraged, if not outright demanded, by the United States.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Verbal jabs, the more eloquent and vulgar the better, are highly encouraged.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
CEOs at Google, Microsoft, and Shopify have mandated or strongly encouraged using AI, especially for engineering teams.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
In keeping with Gunna’s philanthropic vision, participants are also encouraged to make donations supporting the charitable cause of their choice.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Aug. 2025
Women are encouraged to 'marry up' or at least seek a partner who matches their ambition, while men are not socialized to do the same.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Her videos have generated an overwhelmingly positive response and she's been encouraged to keep spreading the word.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Guests are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to security or personnel.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
That’s just fine with new Phantoms coach John Snowden, who was encouraged by Bonk’s Day 1 performance at rookie camp on Thursday.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
These plants sell out quickly, so preordering is encouraged beginning in August of this year.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
For Sunday, fans are encouraged to dress in all white.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraged
Verb
-
Now, Montblanc wants to enter the tech sphere with a new digital writing pad, inspired by its century of experience producing pens.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Thinking about it that way invests meaning in an anecdote Norris related about a member of the copy department so affronted by something a colleague had done that she was inspired to pick up an object and hurl it in that colleague’s general direction.—
Ben Yagoda,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Dodgers promoted right-hander Will Klein to take Kopech’s roster spot.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Serafini was promoted to the role of creative director of the Alberta Ferretti brand in October 2024, succeeding the namesake founder.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An international bestseller later turned into a film by Mira Nair, the book owed its success, in part, to its blunt articulation of the fear and loathing provoked by the American Empire even among many of its eager janissaries.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
But the vote provoked a firestorm from progressive groups and rank-and-file Democrats, who accused him of capitulating without winning concessions.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pilots and drone operators are urged to consult FAA Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before flying.—
Amanda Castro
Mandy Taheri
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Speakers urged a bold infusion of conservative Christian values into public life.—
Liam Adams,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Originally cultivated in Argentina and then brought to Italy, the beans resembled an Italian candy and were named for it.—
Bethany Thayer,
Freep.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Capital One has a high-end card known as Venture X and fintech company Bilt, the company that cultivated a brand by letting renters pay their rent via credit card, is expected to have a high-end card next year.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But dogs still need ways to burn off energy and stay mentally stimulated.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For example, one study found that breast cancer cell growth was stimulated by low concentrations of genistein and inhibited by higher concentrations.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Student tickets nudged down, too, from 8,013 to 7,823.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As the distinct doors open one after another into hospital rooms, school auditoriums, neighborhood diners and childhood homes, both Sarah and David get offered a chance to smooth out former wrinkles and become the kind of people unafraid to commit to new relationships.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Charles’s actions then were interpreted, probably correctly, as a rebuke to Trump for his ungracious treatment of his guest, and also reminded international onlookers that the king remains the most political of monarchs, unafraid to make his favor—or displeasure—known.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encouraged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraged. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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