1
as in to inspire
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to promote
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to urge
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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of encourage
In between tales of dinner parties in Copenhagen and wearing Christian Lacroix straw hats in Paris, Blair encourages us to wait for the moonlight to better illuminate our photographs.
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Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
Bond yields have been rising in recent weeks following encouraging reports on inflation and the economy.
—Alex Veiga, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Although his timing is awkward, Matty makes an earnest attempt at encouraging Stanley, advising him to approach the search like a private investigator, earning the trust of fellow druggies who might point Stanley in the right direction.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Despite her initial skepticism toward early voting—a hallmark of her criticism of election procedures—Lake pivoted and actively encouraged Republicans to vote early in Tuesday's election.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encourage 
Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
Bond yields have been rising in recent weeks following encouraging reports on inflation and the economy.
—Alex Veiga, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Although his timing is awkward, Matty makes an earnest attempt at encouraging Stanley, advising him to approach the search like a private investigator, earning the trust of fellow druggies who might point Stanley in the right direction.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Despite her initial skepticism toward early voting—a hallmark of her criticism of election procedures—Lake pivoted and actively encouraged Republicans to vote early in Tuesday's election.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encourage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourage
Verb
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The media frenzy that descended on the area, with a radio-listening national audience tuned in as Floyd’s life slipped increasingly away over days and days of isolation, would later inspire the classic 1951 film Ace in the Hole starring Kirk Douglas.Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
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New patterns, inspired by Minassian’s own work, include large-scale rhythmic motifs that reflect his belief in creating versatile, impactful pieces suitable for any space.Sofia Celeste, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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After visiting Canada in February with wife Meghan Markle to celebrate one year to go until the 2025 Games, Harry returned solo on Nov. 17 and appeared on the pre-show of the Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League’s championship game, to promote the Games.Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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Then there's the support the tech titan has provided both in-person and virtually by attending campaign rallies and using his social media platform X to regularly promote conservative messaging.Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In contrast to the booming exports, import growth has flat-lined as the domestic economy struggles to pick up, provoking a global backlash from countries that fear the flood of cheaper Chinese goods.Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2024
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Amid the stalemate in larger nuclear negotiations with Washington, Kim has been dialing up pressure on South Korea, abandoning his country’s long-standing goal of inter-Korean reconciliation and verbally threatening to attack the South with nukes if provoked.Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The agency warned the extreme cold weather will raise the risk of frostbites and hypothermia, and urged travelers to carry a winter survival kit.Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
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People with information are being urged to contact the police on 101 quoting log 1319 of 20/11/24.Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
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It’s produced by the Fonseca family, cultivating agave in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, for five generations.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
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Odell and Kimmerer discuss what a gift economy looks like: humans embracing responsibility, learning from healthy and biodiverse ecosystems, and cultivating mutually beneficial relationships that coevolve over time (versus relationships that extract and destroy).Longreads, Longreads, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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By stimulating job creation, attracting investment and fostering innovation, these events contribute to broader economic growth.Mostofa Shakib, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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For example, evidence now suggests that tariffs imposed in 2018 to reduce steel imports did little to stimulate domestic production but left downstream consumers with higher prices.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As the siblings are faced with a Christmas deadline to decide which one of them should take a board seat at their family's company, Mrs. Miracle gently nudges them in the right direction.Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
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But environmental pressures nudged him away from his creativity.Akiva Gottlieb, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
Verb
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To that end, a new coalition of nonprofits and government agencies has formed to foster collaboration among the many researchers, land managers and tribes working to conserve Joshua trees, with the help of $1.4 million in seed money from California’s Wildlife Conservation Board.Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
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In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in an attempt to foster unity in the country, according to KN360°.Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near encourage
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourage. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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