EMBOLDEN Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of embolden are encourage , hearten , and inspirit . While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," 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 'embolden'?

While the synonyms encourage and embolden are close in meaning, 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 'hearten' be used to replace 'embolden'?

Although the words hearten and embolden have much in common, 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 is 'inspirit' a more appropriate choice than 'embolden'?

The words inspirit and embolden 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

embolden

verb

im-ˈbōl-dən

Definition of embolden next

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose his poor showing in his first swim meet just emboldened him to train even harder

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How does the verb embolden differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of embolden are encourage, hearten, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," 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 embolden?

While the synonyms encourage and embolden are close in meaning, 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 hearten be used to replace embolden?

Although the words hearten and embolden have much in common, hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

a hospital patient heartened by good news

When is inspirit a more appropriate choice than embolden?

The words inspirit and embolden 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 embolden Low unemployment emboldens workers to take the risk of organizing a union. —

Paul F. Clark, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025 The news media has recently been emboldened to tell the story of how those around Biden conspired to hide his decline. —

Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025 Though not as physically large a man as Homan, Bull Connor, emboldened by his ties to the Ku Klux Klan and gubernatorial patron, projected the kind of sadistic confidence reminiscent of that portrayed by actor Strother Martin as the prison warden in Cool Hand Luke. —

David McGrath, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025 The move also comes as the Israeli right, and many in the settler movement, feel emboldened by the words of some officials in the Trump administration who have suggested Israel has the right to annex much or all of the West Bank, home to more than three million Palestinians. —

Tim Lister and Eugenia Yosef, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for embolden