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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome
we're off to an encouraging start on this project
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 1 May 2026
In an encouraging sign, Speedman was at Disney’s TV awards season party earlier this week, which was attended by the talent of ABC series which had already been renewed — or whose renewals were pending, including Abbott Elementary, High Potential, Scrubs and Shifting Gears.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026
There were also encouraging signs.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Adjective
On the day Washington made King their first round pick in 2024, scouting director Danny Haas spoke of several encouraging traits.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 1 May 2026
In an encouraging sign, Speedman was at Disney’s TV awards season party earlier this week, which was attended by the talent of ABC series which had already been renewed — or whose renewals were pending, including Abbott Elementary, High Potential, Scrubs and Shifting Gears.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Around 2023, Mudrock began encouraging more people to join the agency.
—Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026
There were also encouraging signs.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
-
Coffee is one of the most promising sectors for economic development in Yemen, where more than 80% of the population lives in poverty, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Changing the body’s response to chronic disease Some of the most promising technologies for longevity will need to be prescribed, not bought.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
For Chamberlain, paintings—and paint itself—are nostalgic and comforting.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
4 May 2026
-
The food was exactly the same—the menu is a fresh and creative take on regional flavors, yet still approachable and comforting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
If a member school’s athletic department desperately needs a line of credit, the university can arrange a more favorable one.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
Surfers competed in the finals of their respective classes, again in less-than-favorable conditions.—
Tony Le Calvez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition to inspiring TNT, the MGM deal gave Turner a few other ideas.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
That feeling of being seen and understood stayed with her, ultimately inspiring Henson to commit to a career as a nurse and to offer the same reassurance to her own patients.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In Church’s day, that separation depended on promoting a robust idea of American innocence over Europe’s enfeebling corruption.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
There is a broader issue of manufacturers selling dangerous products and promoting them with deceptive advertising to lure youth into using their dangerous, ineffective products.—
Jad Abdel Nour,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Through the band members’ stories, Méndez guides readers expertly through a historical landscape that may be unfamiliar to them and examines thought-provoking ideas about art and protest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
As this unseasonable heat returns, the National Weather Service is urging residents in South Florida to take necessary precautions to avoid heat illnesses and heat exhaustion.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
Lydon, who served as a Peruvian missionary with the pope during the 1990s, recalled his friend collecting signatures on petitions urging an end to human rights violations under an authoritarian regime.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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His orangey hair nearly matched a color in his brand-new Miami Dolphins jersey, the number thirty-nine spangly and bright.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
This popular, low-maintenance plant features stunning burgundy foliage and bright pink spring flowers.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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