1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
encouraging signs that the economy is improving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comforting
making one feel good inside
the encouraging story of a young girl who overcame great social and physical obstacles to become an outstanding athlete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome
we're off to an encouraging start on this project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in inspiring
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promoting
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
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 urging
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 encouraging
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
While the results are encouraging, doctors emphasize that the study was small and more research is needed.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Oscar De La Rosa, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Any landscaping projects done within the borders of Naperville means the city is encouraging and paying for soil contamination.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Adjective
The exception was Thursday, when oil prices surged higher but the S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite mounted a rally anyways, in an encouraging sign.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
While the results are encouraging, doctors emphasize that the study was small and more research is needed.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Third, reducing excessive state intervention in pricing and business operations would allow markets to function more efficiently, encouraging entrepreneurship and competition.
—Oscar De La Rosa, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Any landscaping projects done within the borders of Naperville means the city is encouraging and paying for soil contamination.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
-
Pharmaceutical companies must typically invest many years and hundreds of millions of dollars to win approval for a drug; partly for this reason, some promising treatments are never approved, and many arrive too late for people who urgently need them.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Despite these promising signals, large-scale, long-term human studies remain limited.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both Tehran and Washington are pushing their own comforting versions of reality.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe the pretense was comforting to him, too.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Downtown trees offer favorable habitat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for celebrating the holiday.—
Jason Pierce,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fragrance layering allows for infinite scent possibilities beyond the pre-prescribed notes in a single eau de parfum, inspiring both a spirit of play and individuality.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, learn the awe-inspiring history behind these buildings and their architects.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several of her Instagram posts also included hashtags promoting Swift’s album.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Chestnut said in an Instagram story, promoting a clip from the Sunday, March 29, episode, in which Watson is reunited with Sherlock.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Those forces may give the president more leverage in his negotiations, but also risk fueling Tehran's resentment and provoking a harsher response, analysts say.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Women and girls are asked to imagine themselves as a river, provoking powerful reflection on the culture of gender in post-Soviet Asia.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Sunday morning, Haidar Abdul-Samad, deputy director of Basra’s Shalamcha border crossing with Iran, was on the phone with an Iranian official, complaining about electricity cuts that had halted trade, urging a quick resolution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In a video lesson, psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes the importance of compassion when interacting with trauma survivors, highlighting that seemingly negative behaviors may be coping mechanisms for deep emotional pain and urging us to consider their struggles before passing judgment.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ground floor is almost entirely devoted to the bright main restaurant and bar.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Situated on a parcel of what was once bright-green Iowa pasture, our supercomputing facility may not look like much.—
Jed Feiman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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