1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
encouraging signs that the economy is improving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comforting
making one feel good inside
the encouraging story of a young girl who overcame great social and physical obstacles to become an outstanding athlete
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3
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome
we're off to an encouraging start on this project
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in inspiring
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
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2
as in promoting
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urging
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 encouraging
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Lowe’s, for example, has tapped Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey, and Dak Prescot to appear in a ds encouraging fans to finish home projects before football arrives on Sundays.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
The Shelby County Democractic Party has also posted a call to action on their website encouraging people to donate to the library to replace the books.
—Lillian Metzmeier, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Adjective
An encouraging start to the season The final result doesn’t count any differently than if the Cowboys were blown out, but a close loss on the road in a rowdy environment is an encouraging start to the Brian Schottenheimer era in Dallas.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Lowe’s, for example, has tapped Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey, and Dak Prescot to appear in a ds encouraging fans to finish home projects before football arrives on Sundays.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
The broader Mexican Independence Day celebrations will continue through September 16 and beyond, with community organizations monitoring federal activity while encouraging cultural participation.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
The Shelby County Democractic Party has also posted a call to action on their website encouraging people to donate to the library to replace the books.
—Lillian Metzmeier, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
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If the Panthers were to regress, how could that be viewed as promising or successful?—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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The procedure, known as xenotransplantation – transplanting organs, tissues or cells from one species to another – is seen as the most promising way to meet the need of patients waiting desperately for an organ to become available.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pippa writes with such a comforting wit that her books are like a sweet treat in book format.—
Tessa Bailey,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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This Netflix romance is as comforting as a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So, all in all, hair questions seem like a favorable thing.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Political stability, a favorable family-office regime, independent courts, and Mandarin fluency made Singapore a natural draw for China's super-rich.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Zaldivar said in an age where more people are turning away from their faith, the declaration of the young saints is inspiring to many Catholics looking towards the future of the church.—
Lauren Costantino
September 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Reynolds credited Bullock — and how the star handles her career and public persona — with inspiring him to overcome a difficult period in his own life around 2014.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, the president’s criticism of mail-in ballots could risk disrupting the inroads Republicans made with voters last cycle, with the party spending millions promoting mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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It was created with the intention of promoting AI fluency and a future-ready, AI-confident workforce.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
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Follow Scheffler for destination stories, travel trends and thought-provoking conversations from the world of travel.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Administration have been flagging devices like portable power banks, laptops and cell phones for a while, urging travelers to carry them on board instead of checking them with their bags.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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The New York Times filed its letter July 30, urging the judge overseeing the estate to unseal the reports, saying they were designated as confidential without any justification for the sealing.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Pixel’s Magic Editor leverages generative AI tools, which can remove objects in the background, alter lighting, and realistically change the entire mood of a phone (a bright middary sun can easily be compensated for).—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Academy graduate Charlie Tasker is a bright prospect.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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