emboldened

adjective

em·​bold·​ened im-ˈbōl-dənd 

: made bold or bolder : instilled with boldness, courage, or resolution

"This is the way it's gonna be," Stoddard announced. He had reason to feel emboldened. So far, Tom Murphy and Dan Burke had backed his every decision.

—Ken Auletta

If the participant moves toward the creature, it avoids contact. But if the person doesn't move, the emboldened sprite edges closer and finally lands on an outstretched hand.

—Ivars Peterson

Synonyms of emboldened

• adventurous
• daring
• bold
• courageous
• brave
• fearless

Examples of emboldened in a Sentence

not too surprisingly, rock climbing tends to attract the more emboldened seekers of outdoor adventure

Recent Examples on the Web

Sunday on Centre Court, Sinner defended his Wimbledon title, fending off an emboldened Alexander Zverev after dropping the first set to win 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-4. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 12 July 2026

The emboldened administration has quickly celebrated them. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 24 June 2026

But Iran is unquestionably stronger and more emboldened. — S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026

Although no civilian or military deaths were reported, the attack signaled a potential shift in IS-Sahel’s strategy in Niger and an emboldened strategy of attacking larger cities and infrastructure. — Kaitlyn Rabe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined above