1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
encouraging signs that the economy is improving
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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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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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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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of encouraging
Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
In another encouraging sign for the market, nearly a quarter of the buyers were new clients to the house.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Todd Fisher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Even LinkedIn, a B2B stepchild of social media, has been encouraging its subscribers to create short-form video and seeing a spike in video (and AI) content.
—David Doty, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encouraging 
Adjective
And early efforts to modernize HVAC systems with AI have shown encouraging results.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
In another encouraging sign for the market, nearly a quarter of the buyers were new clients to the house.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
In light of these statistics, organizations are increasingly pushing consumers toward chatbots, emails and FAQs, encouraging customers to figure out their own problems.
—Todd Fisher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Even LinkedIn, a B2B stepchild of social media, has been encouraging its subscribers to create short-form video and seeing a spike in video (and AI) content.
—David Doty, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
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Darius Slay batted down Bryce Young’s fourth-down attempt two plays later, securing the ninth-straight victory for an 11-2 team that just got a sneak preview of how its promising season can end.Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
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In the six conversations below, some of this year's most promising and ambitious chefs discuss everything from overcoming self-doubt during their first year in business to the work of preserving and amplifying their culture.Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Buenos Aires, the country’s tech center, is in a favorable time zone (just one hour ahead of EST for most of the year).Daniel Pena, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Even if their attorneys represent views, the attorneys’ goals are to win the litigation or reach a favorable settlement (one that would pay the attorneys quite well through attorneys’ fees).Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Its commitment to excellence has earned widespread recognition in the press, enhancing its stellar reputation and inspiring a deep sense of pride among employees.Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Coincidentally, one of its most loyal fans, Mathew Meyers, saw the post, inspiring him to make an offer that the Morans later accepted.Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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To unlock this potential, organizations can implement several key strategies, including fostering open communication, recognizing achievements, promoting professional development and aligning company values with daily operations.Anna Convery-Pelletier, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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These findings highlight the need to address consumer-side discrimination as a critical component of promoting Black entrepreneurial success.Tiffany Callender, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With millions of square feet of expo space to explore, hundreds of thought-provoking sessions to attend and more than half of the Fortune 500 expected to meet up with, planning is key to getting the most from the show.Martine Paris, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
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The most emotion-provoking parts of this episode for me are the Travis segments, and the main emotion those scenes provoke is irritation.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Likewise, Musk could begin targeting moderate Democrats in pivotal states and districts this spring, urging them to break with their party on key issues, Republican strategist Chris Pack said.Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
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On Tuesday morning, a letter signed by seven leading Democratic Party senators seen by Newsweek was sent to President Joe Biden, urging him to act now to protect current legal migrants.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That advanced air-suspension system shines brightest while cornering, as the Gravity begins to lean over just a bit, pushing weight onto the outside tires until the rear end squares up and plants, then the vehicle shoves off into seeming warp speed yet again.Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024
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The sky at the top of their driveway grew a brighter and brighter shade of red.Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The stock market rally still has room to run, but 2025 will not be as rewarding to investors as the prior two years, according to Fundstrat’s Tom Lee.Jesse Pound, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
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However, in such situations, Ward encourages people to accept the gift graciously and acknowledge the gift giver for their thoughtfulness, which is rewarding on both sides.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near encouraging
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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