HEARTEN Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'hearten' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of hearten are embolden , encourage , and inspirit . While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal. // a hospital patient heartened by good news

Q: When can 'embolden' be used instead of 'hearten'?

While in some cases nearly identical to hearten , embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance. // emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

Q: When might 'encourage' be a better fit than 'hearten'?

Although the words encourage and hearten have much in common, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency. // the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

Q: When could 'inspirit' be used to replace 'hearten'?

The words inspirit and hearten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit , somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something. // patriots inspirited the people to resist

hearten

verb

ˈhär-tᵊn

Definition of hearten next

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse

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How does the verb hearten differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of hearten are embolden, encourage, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

When can embolden be used instead of hearten?

While in some cases nearly identical to hearten, embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.

emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

When might encourage be a better fit than hearten?

Although the words encourage and hearten have much in common, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.

the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

When could inspirit be used to replace hearten?

The words inspirit and hearten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.

patriots inspirited the people to resist

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 hearten Upcoming Reports While college officials will be heartened by these data, they should be interpreted cautiously, particularly when extrapolating to what total applicant volume might look like by the end of the admission cycle. —

Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 Members encouraged by unions’ responses Quirk-Silva came away heartened that the carpenters and trade unions saw work opportunities for their members in the future. —

Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026 Our primary focus remains the safety of our children, and we are heartened to see justice being served so efficiently. —

Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026 While the outcome was certainly tragic, I am heartened by the massive community turnout of residents, employees, police officers, firefighters and neighboring law enforcement agencies who stepped up to help with the search. —

Jack Springgate, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hearten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hearten

Verb

While it was made in the ‘90s, the collection (which showed slip dresses, shirts with undulating ruffles, and jacquard silk jackets constructed to look permanently burst-open) was inspired by the romance between Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The work was inspired by cephalopods such as octopuses, which can rapidly alter their skin’s appearance and texture to blend into their surroundings or communicate.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026

Definition of inspire

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heartbroken

hearten

heartened

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“Hearten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hearten. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 14 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of hearten

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