Antonyms for encourage
ɛnˈkɜr ɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr-en·cour·age

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. encourageverb

   Antonyms:
   discourage

2. encourageverb

   I encouraged him during his race.

   Antonyms:
   discourage

3. encourageverb

   We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.

   Antonyms:
   discourage

4. encourageverb

   The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed

   Antonyms:
   discourage

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. encourage

   Abet and instigate are now used almost without exception in a bad sense; one may incite either to good or evil. One incites or instigates to the doing of something not yet done, or to increased activity or further advance in the doing of it; one abets by giving sympathy, countenance, or substantial aid to the doing of that which is already projected or in process of commission. Abet and instigate apply either to persons or actions, incite to persons only; one incites a person to an action. A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime. The originator of a crime often instigates or incites others to abet him in it, or one may instigate or incite others to a crime in the commission of which he himself takes no active part. Compare HELP.

   Antonyms:
   baffle, confound, counteract, denounce, deter, disapprove, disconcert, discourage, dissuade, expose, frustrate, hinder, impede, obstruct

   Synonyms:
   abet, advocate, aid, assist, countenance, embolden, incite, instigate, promote, sanction, support, uphold

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. encourage

   Antonyms:
   deter, discourage, dissuade, dispirit

   Synonyms:
   embolden, rally, enhearten, cheer, incite, stimulate, foster, cherish, promote, urge, impel, advance, countenance, forward, reassure, animate, inspirit, prompt, abet

Matched Categories

1. • Induce
   • Inspire
   • Support

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. promote, advance, boost, further, encourageverb

   contribute to the progress or growth of

   "I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom"

   Antonyms:
   discourage

   Synonyms:
   throw out, supercharge, bring forward, come along, pass on, get along, win, elevate, kick upstairs, progress, advertize, come on, make headway, advance, upgrade, hike, hike up, gain, pull ahead, foster, promote, boost, go on, gain ground, raise, advertise, move on, get on, shape up, further, push, set ahead, march on, get ahead

2. encourageverb

   inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to

   Antonyms:
   discourage

   Synonyms:
   boost, advance, promote, further

3. encourageverb

   spur on

   "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife"

   Antonyms:
   discourage

   Synonyms:
   boost, advance, promote, further

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. encourageverb

   Synonyms:
   enhearten, reassure, embolden, inspirit, stimulate, revive, rally, foment, countenance, incite

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:2.0 / 3 votes

1. abaseverb

   Submitted by Abdullahumair421 on April 15, 2024  

2. criticism

   give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).

   we were encouraged by the success of this venture

   Submitted by acronimous on September 24, 2015  

How to use encourage in a sentence?

1. Carol Liu:

   We want to encourage teachers to grow, using not only test scores but all sorts of other measures to evaluate progress.

2. Lewis Hickson:

   The last time I was there, I got bedbugs. Hopefully, I can find a shelter somewhere that's presentable and me and my girl can go and make a stay for the winter. you try to encourage them to come in out of the cold.

3. Theresa May:

   I think that everybody in this House, particularly in its 100th year, the anniversary of women getting the vote, should be aiming to encourage women to come into this chamber and to stand in this chamber, and should therefore use appropriate language in this chamber when they are referring to female members.

4. Roger Goodell:

   We, as we took over the investigation, made it clear to them that they should not be investigating any of these matters. Secondly, we asked that the commanders reach out to current employees as well as former employees to encourage them to participate. So any efforts to intimidate witnesses or prevent them from doing it would be inconsistent with that.

5. Jacqueline Maybin:

   These data will encourage future interrogation of menstrual symptoms and pathologies as an indicator of long-term health outcomes and may provide an early opportunity to implement preventative strategies to improve women's health across the lifespan.

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