encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.
the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts
inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.
patriots inspirited the people to resist
hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.
a hospital patient heartened by good news
embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.
emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb
Examples of hearten in a Sentence
The team's victory has heartened its fans.
thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse
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But he’s also been heartened by the public’s love for the installation.—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025 Are there factions that are maybe more heartened by the elevation of this pope than others?—Sean Collins, Vox, 9 May 2025 Chicago Tribune Cochran was also heartened by the new pope’s choice of his papal name, which evokes the memory of Leo the Great, a fifth-century pope who convinced Attila the Hun not to attack Italy.—Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025 America’s adversaries are no doubt heartened by its ballooning debt.—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hearten
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