as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
the huge rebates that the auto companies were offering were all the encouragement I needed to buy a new car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encouragement
As some struggled to get through their statements, audience members shouted words of encouragement or agreement.
—
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Still giving guidance and encouragement to younger visionaries.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
But encouragement from her grandmother inspired her to persevere.
—Nakell Williams, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The campaign was clearly a failure, but Yang took it as encouragement to try to remake the entire political system.
—Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouragement
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Still giving guidance and encouragement to younger visionaries.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
But encouragement from her grandmother inspired her to persevere.
—Nakell Williams, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The campaign was clearly a failure, but Yang took it as encouragement to try to remake the entire political system.
—Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouragement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouragement
Noun
-
Just more incentive to get down the hill as quickly as possible.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
To be eligible for the Spirit Awards, a movie's budget cannot exceed $30 million after tax incentives.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Poor weather was the impetus for the decision.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
-
What was the impetus for your first chess game?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In any case, despite the motivations behind it the mutiny in the studio turned into a party.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
While seeking a limerent object is a good case study in unconscious motivation, perhaps the best modern example of this phenomenon in practice is the cell phone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His campaign focuses on national security and economic stimulus.—
GRANT PECK,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party won a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house of parliament, as voters gave a resounding endorsement of her right-wing agenda, which includes fiscal stimulus.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouragement. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
