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
Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024
Past attempts at such draconian measures, whether in the flailing economies of former Soviet states or in developing nations, rarely yielded encouraging results.
—Ron Insana, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
Shrikant Dash, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Cultivate adaptability by encouraging continuous learning, seeking diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of innovation.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encouraging 
Adjective
Final word In an undeniably disappointing performance overall on Sunday, Williams showed an encouraging ability to bounce back late, rising to the occasion in the fourth quarter and putting the Bears in position to steal a win.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024
Past attempts at such draconian measures, whether in the flailing economies of former Soviet states or in developing nations, rarely yielded encouraging results.
—Ron Insana, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
Developers and hotel operators can join hands to set up local farming collectives, thereby encouraging entrepreneurship, enabling employment opportunities and reducing waste generation along the supply chain.
—Shrikant Dash, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Cultivate adaptability by encouraging continuous learning, seeking diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of innovation.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encouraging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encouraging
Adjective
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Viewers got tired of the endless bait-and-switches, and the promising and smart show of Lois & Clark’s first season slowly sputtered out by its fourth.Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Such a promising shift was apparently driven in part by nationwide efforts to increase testing among pregnant women.Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The filing also details the company's legal proceedings, including a favorable judgment in a trademark infringement lawsuit.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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Overnight and into Monday morning, fire crews took advantage of favorable conditions, building up the containment line around the blaze.Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
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At least Europe can be proud of its high regulatory standards, which seem to be inspiring the world.Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Europe, 21 Oct. 2024
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Wine & Travel France is an armchair traveler’s delight, inspiring daydreams as well as vacation plans.Laura Manske, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Verb
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By Hannah Jackson Again, reducing sugar and alcohol, and adding a sleep supplement, which helps to mimic some properties of oestrogen while also promoting sleep, has actually put a stop to the night sweats altogether, and also to occasional hot flashes during the day.Devinder Bains, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
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Coppola snatches unassimilated ideas from current political paranoia and recent cultural catastrophes (manic news media promoting celebrity insanity), all tossed into the mix with demented incoherence.Armond White, National Review, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The film Untapped is very thought-provoking and brings insightful attention to the future of work.Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2024
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Presently, the hotel is featuring Life Between Heartbeats, a thought-provoking photography exhibition by contemporary artist Miguel Milló that runs until November 31, 2024.Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
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When consumers receive calls from an unknown number urging them to dial back, hang up, the FTC warns.Lindsey Choo, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
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Duncan, also a staunch Republican, is not only voting for Vice President Kamala Harris, but endorsed her in a speech at the Democratic National Convention, urging other Republicans to follow his lead.Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Led by some of the brightest minds in fashion, the event will help attendees elevate their expertise and stay informed.SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
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The new stars are still burning bright, but astronomers don’t expect any of them to last more than 10 million years.Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Learning and using your physical skills to achieve your goal will be rewarding.Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Life in the digital world can be rewarding.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near encouraging
Cite this Entry
“Encouraging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encouraging. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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