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
This way, the socks naturally encourage healthy blood flow.
—
Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Parents are encouraged to participate in their baby’s care through techniques like kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), which helps stabilize vital signs and supports development.
—Memorialcare Medical Group, Oc Register, 10 Jan. 2026
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Unlike one-off grooming purchases, makeup encourages repeat use and experimentation.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
Leaving vinegar or dish soap on your microwave finishes can cause unsightly water spots and streak,s and encourage mold-making moisture to form.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourage
Verb
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Not even those who, inspired by occasional bouts of yellow fever, had sure access to fleeting moments of lucidity.—
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Along with starring in Sorry, Baby, Victor also wrote and directed the film, inspired by her own traumatic experiences.—
Verb
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Still, the district put full faith in its current coaches, promoting from within.—
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The series is part of the theater's efforts to promote accessible, affordable arts programs for the Aurora community.—
Verb
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Analysts and insiders told CBS News the scale of the response to Pahalvi's call could determine whether the deadly, 12-day-old protests fizzle out as previous rounds of unrest have, or grow into a major challenge to the government, and provoke a possible wider crackdown.—
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Intrusive thoughts provoke an anxious spiral as the moon and Saturn oppose.—
Verb
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Crime Stoppers is urging the public not to approach the suspect, who should be considered armed and dangerous.—
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Pink and black, a similar color pairing, is one that Gage urges steering clear of in this day and age.—
Verb
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The psychological thriller, penned by Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning writer Tracy Letts (Coon's real life husband), cultivates fear slowly.—
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And recently, Minneapolis has cultivated its own take on the culture—a little more social, a little more lively.—
Verb
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Cold showers stimulate the vagus nerve, reduce inflammation, and activate parts of the brain that can calm the body after long exposure.—
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The implication was that there could be an easily accessible, off-the-shelf shot capable of stimulating the immune system to fight cancer.—
Verb
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As part of her sweetheart deal, Joseph had to agree to a state investigation — wink wink nudge nudge.—
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Far from contemporary pop, each note and lyric demands your full attention; the reward is transcendence, even as the material nudges you to annotate like a philosophy student with a highlighter in hand.—
Verb
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Due to many performance inquiries from the community, Beebe said the team was inspired to create the Stand Performance Group, fostering a space for training teens for performance outreach.—
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The group collaborates with schools to provide free music education that can inspire personal development, foster a sense of community, and prepare future leaders.—
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourage. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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