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. Glenn Youngkin:

   There's nothing about politics in this for me, should it be mandated for young children ? I think we should just step back and the best way to do that is to encourage everybody to get the vaccine.

2. Frederick Heid:

   We encourage parents to reinforce with their children that they should never make threatening statements. We must take any potential threat seriously.

3. Erica Alfaro:

   The reason I share my story is because I want to encourage undocumented single mothers, and people who suffer from domestic violence, to get an education and achieve their goals.

4. David Darg:

   For instance, after the Ebola outbreak, the aid community was shocked at the relatively low response from private donors in proportion to the amount of media coverage given to the outbreak, by pioneering new ways to convey the very real messages of urgency and need, we can reinforce donor response and encourage a new demographic of donors and advocates to engage.

5. The New York Democrat:

   I just want to encourage very careful caution. I'm thinking about this in terms of visiting my mother, who is in her 90s, and not wanting to at all have any chance that she gets introduced to anything, i'm thinking about how I may have to stick to phone calls with my mother.

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